Unsafe concrete in schools prompts call for action

author: FutureCar Staff    

Government ministers have been urged to take action to ensure the safety of schools as millions of students return to school this week. The government has already instructed over 100 schools and colleges to fully or partially close due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). However, there could be more closures as further assessments are conducted to determine the risks involved. Additionally, there is a growing dispute over who will bear the costs of repairs.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has expressed willingness to allocate necessary funds to address the issue, but Treasury sources have indicated that the money for repairs will come from the Department for Education's existing capital budget. Unions are frustrated by the lack of clarity regarding which costs will be covered by the government and are calling for transparency in terms of reimbursement for mitigation expenses incurred by headteachers. The government has promised to release a list of affected schools, but the Labour party has threatened to force a vote to compel its publication next week.

Shadow secretary for education Bridget Phillipson has criticized the government's refusal to publish the full list of affected schools, stating that parents are being left in the dark at the start of a new school term. She has called for ministers to be transparent and take responsibility for the situation. If the government fails to publish the list, the Labour party intends to force a vote in the House of Commons to ensure that parents have the necessary information. Phillipson emphasizes the importance of parents having confidence in the safety of their child's school.

The government has stated that remote learning for students unable to attend face-to-face lessons should only last for "days, not weeks," but no specific timeline for resolving the disruption has been provided. Education leaders have been encouraged to utilize community centers, vacant office buildings, or other schools while structural supports are installed to mitigate the risk of collapse.

Concerns about RAAC have been raised since 2018, with accusations that ministers have been slow to address the issue. Experts have warned that the risks associated with RAAC may extend beyond schools to other public buildings such as hospitals, court buildings, and prisons. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are also assessing the presence of RAAC in their schools, with the Scottish government reporting its presence in 35 schools but stating that there is no immediate risk to student safety. The Welsh government has reported no presence of RAAC in councils and colleges.

FutureCar Staff