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School insurance claims set to hit £180 million
Experts and unions warn the increase in school insurance claims is a ‘concerning’ sign of the deteriorating condition and resilience of school buildings
Claims made through the government-backed school insurance scheme are projected to exceed £180 million within three years, official estimates show.
The latest on the Department for Education’s Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA) estimates claims will reach £154.3 million in 2025-26.
This is projected to rise to £159 million in 2026-27, £171.4 million in 2027-28 and £183.3 million in 2028-29.
The RPA is a government-backed alternative to commercial insurance for schools in England, through which losses are met from government funds. It covers risks including property damage, legal expenses and cyberattacks.
The annual per-pupil cost of the scheme has also risen from £21 in 2022-23 to £27 in 2025-26, and willfurther rise to £29 in 2026-27.
Experts and unions have warned that the increase in claims is a “concerning” sign of the deteriorating condition and resilience of school buildings.
Fire claims drive rise
The report shows £22.8 million of fire losses had already been reported in the first four months of 2025-26. The figures include both settled and unsettled claims.
Fire losses for 2024-25 were significantly down compared with other years at £4.1 million. Fire losses were £38.8 million in 2021-22 and £36.6 million in 2022-23.
A fire claim occurs when fire is the main cause of loss, resulting in damage to a school building or school-owned contents, or additional costs associated with alternative accommodation.
Stephen Morales, chief executive of the Centre for Education Operational Excellence, said the figures reflected wider concerns about an ageing school estate comprising buildings from different eras, including Victorian and post-war buildings, as well as temporary and newer additions.
Flood and storm claims
The report also shows rising reported losses linked to flood and storm damage.
Reported flood and storm losses rose from £19.7 million in 2023-24 to £28.5 million in 2024-25.
There were 463 flood and storm claims reported in 2024-25, up from 404 the previous year.
A previous report, based on claims as of May 2025, said claims were “predominantly driven” by property damage and business interruption risks, with “notable volatility” in fire and flood or storm-related damage.
It also said claims costs were expected to rise in line with growing RPA membership and inflationary pressures.
Climate resilience
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said the figures showed the need for more investment to make school buildings climate-resilient, as extreme weather events become more likely.
“Doing so would not just benefit school finances in the long run, but, crucially, would help avoid unnecessary disruption to pupils’ learning,” he said.
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the rising number of claims was “concerning” and highlighted the risks posed by fires, floods and cyberattacks.
He said increased extreme weather and a failure to modernise the school estate had created a “perfect storm”.
Mr Di’Iasio added that there is an “overwhelming need” for greater capital funding to make school buildings “fit for the future” and mitigate climate risks.
Schools urged to assess risks
Mr Morales said schools need “robust condition surveys” to understand which parts of their estate are most likely to fail, and to build risk-based maintenance plans.
He also said that schools must prioritise major risks to pupils, including from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (better known as RAAC), asbestos and structural problems, before moving on to issues such as insulation, energy efficiency and the quality of learning spaces.
The RPA was launched for academies in 2014 and was extended to local authority-maintained schools in April 2020.
There were 13,546 schools signed up as of January 2026, representing around 62 per cent of eligible schools.
The report says the figures are “best estimate” claims projections, and warns there are uncertainties over costs in future years.
The estimates do not include associated expenses for claims, such as additional legal costs or the DfE’s operating costs for the scheme, including staff, claims handling and external advisers.
