MPs have criticised the lack of information about work to address dangerous concrete in schools in England. A report by the Public Accounts Committee called on the Department for Education (DfE) to confirm the scale of the problem of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in schools. It also asked the DfE to assess whether surveys could be inaccurate and to outline plans to remove all Raac from schools. The report expressed broader concerns about the state of school buildings, particularly in the north of England, rural and coastal areas.
Despite the DfE’s release of an official list of 214 schools and colleges with Raac in September, the committee warned the list would grow. It urged the DfE to provide basic data, such as how many temporary classrooms had been ordered. The DfE rejected the report’s findings, stating that it had taken swift action to ensure the safety of staff and pupils. Many schools are unsure whether they will receive the funding to address their problems.
An estimated 700,000 children in England are being taught in unsafe or ageing school buildings. In August, schools without safety mitigations for Raac were told to shut a few days before term started. This sudden change in approach left some children learning from home while alternative arrangements were made. As of 19 October, 202 of the 214 affected schools were offering full-time, face-to-face education, but some children are still being taught in sports halls, corridors, marquees, temporary classrooms or external buildings.
Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it was taking an eternity to put remedial measures in place. Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the head teachers’ union NAHT, warned that affected schools needed temporary classrooms and spaces for after-school care. Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the National Education Union, said a “substantial” investment in school buildings was required
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