Nearly 150 schools across the UK have been instructed to shut down buildings and classrooms at risk of collapse due to faulty concrete, with just a few days remaining before students return for the new school year.
Emergency Measures Taken
Education officials have ordered the installation of temporary portacabin units and have instructed students to attend other local schools if the walls cannot be secured.
Internal advice seen by HOAR from the Department for Education (DfE) has mandated that any rooms using RAAC concrete be immediately vacated and alternative arrangements made, even if the risk is assessed as non-critical. The DfE has offered to provide support, including funding for urgent measures such as propping tools and temporary classrooms.
Race Against Time
Schools are now scrambling to devise emergency plans ahead of the impending start of the academic year, with just a few days remaining. Equipment such as computers are being relocated to safe classrooms as quickly as possible.
It is anticipated that different year groups may be dispersed across multiple schools, but the duration of this arrangement is uncertain. Priority will be given to vulnerable students, according to guidelines given to local authorities.
Extent of the Problem
The DfE has assigned staff to determine how many spaces are affected and the measures already in place in all affected schools. Earlier this year, four schools were closed after RAAC was found in their ceilings. The use of lightweight materials, including RAAC, since the 1950s has raised concerns following a roof collapse in Kent in 2018.
It is estimated that up to 500 schools may be affected by the faulty concrete, with at least 65 schools already identified by the National Audit Office.
Political Response
Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, has criticized the government's handling of the situation, stating, "This is shocking evidence of a department in disarray. With days to go before the start of term and despite knowing about the potential risks posed by reinforced aerated autoclave concrete for months, [ministers] are now phoning schools to ask them if they are ready to close, further disrupting children's education."
The Department for Education has been contacted for comment. A department spokesperson reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of pupils and teachers, adding that they have been working with schools to address the potential risks of RAAC since 2018.
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