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Safe Air Schools is a parent-led organisation, supported by experts, working to improve air quality in classrooms. Founded in Hampshire, Safe Air Schools responds to challenges faced by schools nationwide and brings together a coalition of independent organisations united in the same goal. Our approach centres on inclusion, equity, sustainability and action rooted in evidence.
Open Letter
16th December 2025
Parents, doctors, teachers, and public health experts are calling on ministers in all four UK administrations to take urgent action to improve air quality in schools. They warn that continued inaction is contributing to illness, disrupted learning, and rising school absences.
Safe Air Schools UK has sent an urgent open letter to Education Ministers in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, backed by leading scientists, clinicians, teachers, school leaders, and public health experts.
The letter warns that illness linked to poor indoor air quality is predictable, preventable, and disruptive, keeping children out of school and parents away from work, while undermining attendance, learning, and long-term health.
Despite £67 million being spent on CO₂ monitors for schools at the height of the pandemic, there is still no formal requirement to collect, record, or act on the data they generate.
Key concerns
- CO₂ and other indoor air pollutants frequently reach levels known to reduce concentration and learning.
- Illness outbreaks linked to poor air quality drive school absences and disrupt in-person education.
- Children absorb more pollutants than adults, increasing the risk of lifelong health impacts.
- £67 million spent on CO₂ monitors at the height of the pandemic, yet barriers to use are well-documented, and there is no requirement to collect, record or act on readings.
- There is currently no coherent plan to ensure clean, safe indoor air in schools.
The group calls for
- Attendance policies aligned with public health, including ending the counterproductive 100% attendance awards that penalise medically vulnerable pupils.
- A national public health campaign on indoor air contaminants, alongside transparent monitoring of CO₂ and airborne pollutants.
- Updated guidance (BB101) and statutory indoor air quality standards, with continuous monitoring and carbon monoxide alarms installed as standard.
- Immediate funding for HEPA air filtration, alongside updated guidance for schools.
Voices from the frontline
Headteacher Martyn Reah said: “Clean air has made a clear difference in our Hampshire school. We introduced air filters into classrooms two years ago and have seen improved attendance as a result.”
Safe Air Schools UK is a founding signatory of the Global Pledge for Healthy Indoor Air, launched at the United Nations in New York. The group is urging the ministers in all four UK administrations to support the pledge and commit to clean, safe air for every child in every classroom.
If you support our letter, please join in adding your signature.
Mission
We empower young people and school staff to understand and advocate for healthy indoor air in their schools. We educate, raise awareness of and promote expert-backed guidance on monitoring and improving indoor air quality. We promote safe and effective air filtration tailored to the needs of each school, and we support mandatory air quality checks to assess the health of learning environments.
We campaign for updates to ventilation standards, striving for CO2 levels below 800 ppm, and advocate for funding for modern, energy-efficient ventilation systems in both new and existing school buildings.
Finally, we support legislative efforts, including the Clean Air Human Rights Bill, to ensure every child and school staff member has the right to breathe clean air.
Commitment to Inclusivity
Clean indoor air removes barriers for children and teachers living with health needs, such as immunocompromised people, and those living with asthma and allergies. We are committed to safeguarding our at-risk and clinically vulnerable children, ensuring they are not excluded from learning.
Sustainable Education
Sustainable education means creating healthy indoor learning environments. Climate change worsens indoor air quality by increasing pollutants that elevate respiratory and allergy risks for students.
Equitable Education
Clean indoor air gives all children the same chance to thrive. No child should fall behind because of their postcode or the condition of their school buildings. Breathing clean air is a right for every pupil and teacher.
Gallery
We stand proudly alongside GO AQS
GO AQS (Global Open Air Quality Standards) GO AQS is a team of experts comprising scientists, public health professionals, and air quality experts, founded by our expert advisor, Sotirios Papathanasiou.
GO AQS is an initiative creating science-based global benchmarks for clean air indoors and outdoors. It replaces fragmented national rules with universal standards and a shared language, allowing air quality to be measured consistently worldwide.
GO AQS defines pollutant limits, builds a global air quality index, and ensures standards are equitable and transparent, giving everyone the right to breathe healthy air without reliance on single technologies or vendors.
