An update from the Department for Education (DfE) this week reveals a total of 214 educational settings have been found to have buildings with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete – known as RAAC.
Of these, 202 settings are continuing to provide face-to-face learning for all pupils and 12 have put hybrid arrangements in place. None have had to move to remote learning full-time.
According to the DfE, all settings have been assigned a case work and will be provided with funding for ‘mitigation works’ such as ‘propping’ and temporary accommodation.
Unison the union said that ‘ministers must come clean on the full scale of crumbly concrete’.
Its head of education Mike Short explained, ‘Despite promises to keep all those with an interest in the state of schools updated on the extent of the dangerous crumbly concrete, ministers seem intent on keeping everyone in the dark. ‘Instead of perpetual chaos, the Government must get a grip. That means investigating each case properly, fixing any structures putting pupils and staff at risk, and giving schools clear guidance on what they should be doing.’
The Local Government Association urged the Government to be clear on how the costs to identify RAAC and facilitate remediation work, where it is present, will be met.