Govt must come clean on how many schools are affected by crumbling concrete

EMBARGO: Immediate Release 

The Government has refused to reveal which schools are affected by failing RAAC concrete. The Liberal Democrats are calling for the Government to release the list of schools affected. 

104 schools have been told to close buildings because they are at risk of collapse due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). However a list of schools affected has not been made available by the Department for Education. 

The schools Minister Nick Gibb has also conceded that the Government still does not have a definitive list of all schools that might be affected as they “continue to do more surveying work”. 

Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said:  

“Every parent across the country will want to be reassured that they are not sending their child back to school in an unsafe building that may collapse. Pupil safety must always be paramount and it is clear that this Government has neglected the school estate and allowed it to crumble. 

“Ministers must release information about each and every school that has been affected so far, and also set out a timetable to complete inspections on all other schools suspected to have RAAC.

“Two years ago the Government acknowledged the “very likely” risk of building collapse. But it has made this announcement just days before term starts. Pupils will face more misery learning in temporary classrooms,  being bussed miles to local schools or having to return to pandemic style remote learning. 

"This shocking admission is a concrete result of years of Conservative neglect of our school buildings.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

DfE’s public risk register has said that there is a “critical and very likely” risk of a building collapse or failure causing death or injury. 

https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/condition-of-school-buildings.pdf, p. 27

The NAO concluded that the DfE “currently lacks comprehensive information on the extent

and severity of potential safety issues across the school estate, although it has made

progress in the last year.”

https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/condition-of-school-buildings.pdf, p. 8