This is just one example of the issues that Louise Cooper, Chief Operating Officer of The BRIT School, is currently facing at the acclaimed Croydon arts school.
Worsening building conditions have also caused serious disruption, including leaks that forced a classroom to close and a ceiling collapse that shut down changing rooms used by musical theatre students.
Now, the school is one of 640 across England awarded government funding through the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF), which supports urgent repair and maintenance work in smaller academy trusts and voluntary-aided schools.
BRIT is among more than 70 schools in London receiving support this year.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Cooper said: “We have funding for one project which will replace the majority of our main building roof. It was built in 1990, it was designed only to serve for 15 years, but it is now 34 years old.”
They also received funding for a second project, which will focus on critical fire safety works. “We are definitely fortunate to receive this funding”, Cooper added.
The project works for the BRIT School and other schools across London are expected to start over the summer break. “We’ll use the summer break to carry out anything that needs a power-down,” said Cooper.
“If anything overlaps with term time, it’ll be done in the late afternoon to avoid disrupting lessons.”
She also told the LDRS that while staff have welcomed the news, students haven’t yet been told, as phasing details have yet to be finalised. “I’ve got the first planning call tomorrow,” she added.
The school’s site in Selhurst houses five buildings dating from 1909 to 2012, some of which regularly face repair challenges.
Cooper said: “In one of our older blocks, part of the ceiling came away recently, and we are going to need to replace that small piece of roof. However, until we do that, the changing rooms for musical theatre are closed, which is severely impacting their work.
“Big infrastructure projects are just not affordable for us without external help, and CIF grants are honestly quite hit and miss.”
The funding, announced in late May, forms part of a £470 million CIF package for 2025–26, up from £423.9 million last year, according to the Department for Education. This funding aims to fix what the Labour government has called “the dire state of public services” inherited after 15 years of Conservative-led government.
Not all schools are eligible for CIF funding, as maintained schools and those in larger academy trusts receive capital funding through their local council or trust instead.
“This investment is about more than just buildings, it’s about showing children that their education matters, their futures matter,” said Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
Croydon West MP Sarah Jones praised the announcement:
“This is a vital step to ensure schools have safe, modern facilities. It reflects the government’s commitment to education in Croydon.”
Despite being tight space at its Selhurst site, the BRIT School is also exploring options for expansion. Cooper said: “We’ve already grown our digital arts programme in response to industry demand.
“We’re now considering satellite space, though we’re committed to staying in Croydon.”
The school also remains embedded in the community. “We’ve got deep roots in Selhurst,” said Cooper, highlighting outreach partnerships with local charities, the Merky Academy, Legacy Youth Zone and the Nordoff Robbins music therapy centre.
“I love the students,” she added. “My office overlooks the outdoor theatre space we built during COVID. It’s Shakespeare season this week, so every morning I hear them warming up, it’s brilliant.”
The BRIT School counts Olivia Dean, Lola Young, and Raye among its alumni. One to watch, says Cooper, is Raefyn West, who is currently managing pyrotechnics on tour with Sam Fender.
Here is a full list of London schools awarded CIF funding in 2024–25 and their projects:
Barnet:
Bexley:
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Bexley Grammar School – Urgent water quality improvement, boiler and heating distribution replacement
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Blackfen School for Girls – Urgent fire door replacement and compartmentation improvements
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Pearswood Primary School – Urgent boiler replacement
Brent:
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Beis Yaakov Primary School – Boiler plantation, heating distribution and radiator replacement
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Sudbury Primary School – Urgent boiler, heating distribution and roof replacement
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Alperton Community School – Urgent pitched roof replacement
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Preston Manor School – Urgent fire safety upgrade works
Bromley:
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St Mary’s Catholic Primary School – Urgent fire safety improvements
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Darrick Wood Junior School – Electrical rewire and fire safety works
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Pratts Bottom Primary School – Fire safety, water distribution, and heating boiler replacement
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Glebe School – Urgent heating distribution replacement
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St Paul’s Cray CofE Primary School – Replacement of primary plant
Camden:
Croydon:
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BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology – Fire safety, essential fire alarm, emergency lighting and electrical safety works, building structure improvements
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Norbury High School for Girls – Urgent fire compliance
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St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary School – Heating and water distribution replacement
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St Mary’s Catholic Junior and Infants – Urgent safeguarding works
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Beckmead College – Gas plant replacement and heating distribution
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Orchard Way Primary School – Fire safety and rewiring
Enfield:
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Southgate School – Replacement of heating distribution and emitters
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Alma Primary School – Urgent boiler replacement and electrical safety works
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Worcesters Primary School – Urgent boiler replacement
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Keys Meadow Primary School – Urgent fire safety and boiler replacement
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Wolfson Hillel Primary School – Urgent heating distribution replacement, fire safety and electrical improvements
Greenwich:
Hackney:
Hammersmith & Fulham:
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The London Oratory School – Urgent water quality improvements
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Fulham Cross Academy – Urgent boiler and heating distribution
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Fulham Cross Girls’ School – Water quality improvements
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Willow Bank Junior School – Urgent flat roof replacement
Haringey:
Harrow:
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Bentley Wood High School – Urgent boiler and heating distribution
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Rooks Heath School – Urgent fire safety, electrical, heating and ventilation improvements
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Hatch End High School – Urgent fire alarm and emergency lighting replacement
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Whitefriars School – Urgent timber window replacement, urgent fire safety and electrical improvements
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Earlsmead Primary School – Urgent fire safety and electrical improvements, urgent fire door replacement and compartmentation improvements
Havering:
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Drapers’ Academy – Urgent fire safety improvements
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Drapers’ Brookside Infant School – Fire alarm and emergency lighting upgrade
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Drapers’ Pyrgo Priory School – Urgent heating pipework and emitter replacement
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The Campion School – Structural repairs to the Junior block and urgent tile replacement
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Sacred Heart of Mary Girls’ School – Fire compartmentation and fabric works
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Emerson Park Academy – Urgent roof and block replacement
Hillingdon:
Hounslow:
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Lampton Academy – Urgent boiler and heating replacement
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Springwest Academy – Urgent boiler and heating distribution replacement, urgent fire safety and electrical improvements
Kingston upon Thames:
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Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School – Urgent fire precaution works
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Tolworth Girls’ School & Sixth Form – Urgent building safety replacement roof structure works
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The Hollyfield School & Sixth Form Centre – Urgent fire precaution works
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Latchmere School – Plantroom distribution emitters renewal programme
Lambeth:
Merton:
Newham:
Redbridge:
Richmond upon Thames:
Sutton:
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Wilson’s School – Heating distribution, radiator replacement project, fire compliance
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Sutton Grammar School – Urgent fire compliance
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Carshalton Boys Sports College – Fire compliance
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Wandle Valley Academy – Urgent fire compliance works
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Barrow Hedges Primary School – Fire safety, compliance and gas heating replacement
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Abbey Primary School – Urgent boiler replacement and rewiring
Tower Hamlets:
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Sir William Burrough Primary School – Urgent water safety compliance works
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Cyril Jackson Primary School – Urgent fire safety compliance works and urgent heating distribution replacement
Waltham Forest:
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Yardley Primary School – Heating replacement
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Mayville Primary School – Water quality, fire safety and electrical improvement
Wandsworth:
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St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College – Urgent fire safety and electrical improvements and roof refurbishment
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Belleville Wix Academy – Urgent masonry compliance
Westminster:
