School repairs funded by existing budgets

author: FutureCar Staff    

Money to repair school buildings at risk of collapse will come from the Department for Education's (DfE) existing capital budget, according to sources. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has pledged to allocate the necessary funds to ensure the safety of classrooms after concerns were raised about reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac). The government has faced criticism for not acting quickly enough to address the risks associated with Raac, but Hunt assured parents that an exhaustive process has been carried out to identify unsafe buildings. While the potential cost of repairs remains unknown, Hunt stated that the government is committed to spending whatever is necessary to ensure the safety of children.

Following the collapse of a beam in a school, over 100 schools and colleges have been instructed by the government to fully or partially shut down their buildings. Schools minister Nick Gibb has acknowledged that more classrooms may need to be closed, and Hunt confirmed that further structural problems could emerge in the coming weeks or months. The government has been proactive in addressing the Raac issue, with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan taking immediate action after new information came to light. The extent to which asbestos complicates the problem in schools and other public buildings is still uncertain.

Hunt has assured that the government will take action to address both the Raac issue and the wider asbestos problem to ensure the safety of children. However, there is still uncertainty about which costs will be covered by the central government, leading to concerns among unions. The government has revised its guidance to suggest that the cost of temporary accommodation will be covered, but Hunt did not guarantee extra money for rentals for headteachers. The National Education Union (NEU) has called for all costs to be covered by the government to alleviate uncertainty for school leaders.

Despite the crisis, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has promised that the situation will not lead to a return to lockdown. Schools are advised to use remote learning as a last resort if face-to-face lessons cannot be held. The government has stated that remote learning should only last for days, not weeks, but a timeline for when the disruption will ease has not been provided. In the meantime, education leaders are encouraged to utilize community centers, empty local office buildings, or other schools as temporary spaces while structural supports are installed to mitigate the risk of collapse.

The Labour Party has criticized the government's response to the crisis, calling it a "bare bones" approach. Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson expressed concerns about funding mitigation work with the existing budget, as it may impact other necessary measures such as addressing asbestos or the school rebuilding program. Keegan will provide an update on the situation to Parliament next week, and Labour plans to force a vote to compel the government to publish a list of affected schools. Schools in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are also being assessed for the presence of Raac.

FutureCar Staff