One sentence summary – The Department for Education (DfE) has issued an urgent alert about the potential risks of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools across England, with concerns about the durability of RAAC being raised for over two decades, and efforts are underway to assess and repair affected buildings while alternative solutions are being sought for students impacted by the RAAC crisis.
At a glance
- The Department for Education (DfE) has issued an urgent alert about the potential risks of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools across England.
- Initially, 156 schools were identified as having RAAC-based buildings, but the official list has not yet been published.
- Concerns about the durability of RAAC have been raised for over 20 years, and in 2018, the DfE issued an alert after a roof collapse incident involving RAAC in schools.
- Headteachers have been urgently trying to determine if their schools have RAAC-based buildings, and some students have already begun the academic year remotely due to the concerns surrounding RAAC.
- The crisis surrounding RAAC is exacerbated by budget reductions for school renovations and rebuilds implemented by Conservative administrations since 2010, and political implications are being scrutinized.
The details
The Department for Education (DfE) has issued an urgent alert about the potential risks of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools across England.
RAAC is a lightweight, cost-effective concrete that was widely used in schools and public buildings from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Concerns about the durability of RAAC have been raised for over two decades.
Initial Identification of Affected Schools
Initially, 156 schools were identified as having RAAC-based buildings.
However, the exact list of affected schools has not yet been published.
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) is a lightweight and cheaper alternative to traditional concrete.
It was extensively used in the UK from the 1950s to the 1980s, particularly in schools and public buildings.
Concerns about the durability of RAAC have been raised for over 20 years.
In 2018, the DfE previously issued an alert after a roof collapse incident involving RAAC in schools.
An urgent alert was issued by the DfE regarding the potential risks associated with RAAC-built schools in England.
Initially, 156 schools were identified as a concern, but the official list is yet to be published.
It is anticipated that the number of affected schools will exceed the initial figure.
Headteachers have been urgently trying to determine if their schools have RAAC-based buildings.
Some students have already begun the academic year remotely due to the concerns surrounding RAAC.
Schools have been seeking alternative classrooms or temporary cabins to accommodate affected students.
RAAC is also a concern in other public buildings such as courts and prisons.
The DfE has dispatched teams of engineers to assess the affected sites and determine appropriate actions.
The crisis surrounding RAAC is exacerbated by budget reductions for school renovations and rebuilds implemented by Conservative administrations since 2010.
This has further complicated finding solutions for affected schools.
Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, has been implicated in funding decisions related to RAAC.
The education secretary, Gillian Keegan, has faced criticism for her handling of the situation.
Political Implications
Three-quarters of the affected schools in England are located in Conservative-held areas.
Notably, 36 of the affected schools are situated in the seats of government frontbenchers, including 13 cabinet members.
In total, approximately 100,000 students attend the 147 named schools confirmed to have RAAC on-site.
Essex county council has the highest number of affected schools, with 53 on the list, impacting over 30,000 students.
Additionally, eight schools in business secretary Kemi Badenoch’s Saffron Walden constituency in Essex are affected.
Scotland has reported 35 primary and secondary schools affected by the RAAC crisis, with some buildings temporarily closed.
In Wales, two schools on Anglesey will temporarily close for inspections due to the presence of RAAC.
Over 100 schools in England have been partially or fully shut down due to safety concerns related to RAAC.
Inspectors from the DfE visited Springfield Primary School in Chelmsford, resulting in the overnight closure of the junior school section.
Contractors have been working intensively to replace RAAC beams with timber joists and complete necessary repairs.
Temporary classrooms, initially ordered, are no longer needed and have been redirected to another nearby school.
However, certain areas of the school, such as storage cupboards, the IT suite, and offices, will not be finished until October half term.
The urgent alert issued by the DfE regarding the collapse-prone RAAC in schools across England has created widespread concerns and disruptions in the education system.
Efforts are underway to assess and repair affected buildings while alternative solutions are being sought for students impacted by the RAAC crisis.
The political implications of the situation are also being scrutinized.
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| theguardian.com |
|---|
| – Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) is a type of concrete that is lightweight and cheaper to produce. |
| – Raac was widely used in the UK from the 1950s to the 1980s, mainly in schools and public buildings. |
| – Concerns about the durability of Raac have been raised for over 20 years. |
| – |
| An urgent alert was issued about the potential risks from Raac-built schools in England, with 156 initially identified as a concern. – |
| The Department for Education (DfE) has not yet published the list of affected schools. – Headteachers have been scrambling to find out if their schools have Raac-based buildings and seeking alternative classrooms or temporary cabins. – Some students have started the academic year learning remotely due to the Raac concerns. |
| – Raac is also a concern in other public buildings such as courts and prisons. – |
| The DfE had previously sounded an alert about Raac in schools in 2018 after a roof collapse incident. – |
| The DfE has dispatched teams of engineers to assess affected sites. – |
| The number of affected schools is likely to be well above the initial 156 identified. – Some schools with Raac may be minimally affected, while others may need to find alternative solutions. – Conservative administrations since 2010 have reduced the budget for school renovations and rebuilds, exacerbating the Raac problem. – Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, is implicated in the funding decisions related to Raac. – Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, has faced criticism for her handling of the situation. |
| theguardian.com |
|---|
| – Three-quarters of the schools in England affected by the schools concrete crisis are in Conservative-held areas. |
| – 36 of the affected schools are in the seats of government frontbenchers, including 13 cabinet members. – Approximately 100,000 students attend the 147 named schools confirmed to have collapse-prone reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) onsite. |
| – Close to 10% of students, or 9,858 pupils, are facing a delay to the start of the school term due to the issue. – 24 schools across England will receive remote learning because of the crisis. – Essex county council has the highest number of affected schools, with 53 on the list, accounting for over 30,000 students. |
| – 109 of the 147 affected schools are in constituencies with Conservative MPs. |
| – Eight schools in business secretary Kemi Badenoch’s Saffron Walden constituency in Essex are affected. |
| – |
| The cost of fixing secondary schools is likely to be three times higher than primary schools due to their larger size. – |
| The Raac crisis has affected 35 primary and secondary schools in Scotland, with some buildings shut over safety concerns. – |
| In Wales, two schools on Anglesey have been identified as having Raac and will temporarily close for inspections. |
| bbc.co.uk |
|---|
| – Over 100 schools in England have been told to partially or fully shut buildings due to safety concerns over the concrete they were built with. – Inspectors from the Department for Education visited Springfield Primary School in Chelmsford following revised guidance released in April about schools built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). |
| – As a result of the visit, the junior school section of Springfield Primary had to close overnight. |
| – The school had already planned for repairs to be carried out during the summer holidays, so the closure was brought forward. |
| – Chelmsford Learning Partnership provided places for nearly 200 children at two other schools while repairs were being made. |
| – RAAC was used between the 1950s and 1990s as a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, but its short lifespan has caused problems in permanent buildings. – Contractors worked on site seven days a week during the summer break to prepare the school for the autumn term. – |
| The RAAC beams have been replaced with timber joists and most necessary works have been completed. – |
| The school ordered three temporary classrooms, but they are no longer needed and have been sent to another nearby school. – Some areas of the school, such as storage cupboards, the IT suite, and offices, will not be finished until October half term. |
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