Almost three in four (72 per cent) classrooms suffer from air quality that is ‘below standard’, according to a new survey asking teachers across the UK about their school’s working conditions.

Nearly three in five teachers (59 per cent) deemed a classroom with poor air quality to be ‘not fit for purpose’ – for either teachers or pupils, with three-quarters (77 per cent) of teachers noticing that substandard air quality caused concentration problems in students, while 53 per cent said performance or grades suffered.

The Air Quality in UK Classrooms Report – conducted by experts in air movement and ventilation solutions Airflow – asked teachers at 133 schools across the UK for their insights into working and learning conditions at UK schools.

The report found that conditions impacted student health, with three in five (61 per cent) teachers believing classroom air quality is aggravating asthma and other lung conditions in pupils. Ill-effects on health were 55 per cent more likely in cities, where both industrial and road pollution are more prevalent.

How are teachers being affected?

Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of all teachers surveyed said poor air quality is affecting teachers’ physical and mental health. While 31 per cent of those at schools with ‘below standard’ air quality reported that despite requesting improvements, no action has been taken.

However, more than a quarter (27 per cent) said their school is trying to improve air quality, but cannot due to a lack of funding or government support.

What improvements do teachers want to see?

Faced with sub-standard air quality, teachers identified the changes they want schools to make:

• Replace old heating appliances (which can contribute to indoor air pollution) – 72 per cent
• Install air filtration or purification systems – 71 per cent
• Ban cars on streets with schools during school run times – 38 per cent
• Relocate playgrounds and classroom windows away from roads – 32 per cent

Alan Siggs Managing Director of Airflow Developments Ltd said: “We commissioned this survey to raise awareness of the problems poor air quality creates and how it impacts the classroom. Improving air quality is our area of expertise and we know the solutions available to overcome these problems.  

“However, what we didn’t know and what this survey has highlighted is how bad the situation is and how it affects teachers and students. It’s clear that funding solutions need to be found quickly and there must be support from the upper reaches of government for that to happen. Investment in modern ventilation systems is a must for the health of the future generation: we’ve seen first-hand the stark difference good air quality can have.

“To gain this investment, grassroots pressure is required to focus the government and local councils on the issue. Schools, teachers and even parents can raise the issue at PTA meetings or with local councillors to start turning the screw.

“The recent resurgence in Covid cases makes action on air quality even more pressing. Nobody wants a situation where children and teachers are returning to classrooms that facilitates the transmission of the virus. If measures are put into place, the health of both students and teachers can only benefit.”

While some personnel are finally returning to the office – the great majority of organisations (up to 83 per cent) anticipate a hybrid mix of on-premises and working from home to continue for the foreseeable future.

This means that when it comes to providing access to the workplace, where once it was simply enough to maintain a welcoming reception for visitors, organisations today must also keep a close eye on access permissions in real-time to keep buildings safe and secure while ensuring they comply with compliance.

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