Crumbling Concrete in Hundreds of Schools creates Chaos

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has vowed to “spend what it takes” to tackle the new unstable concrete crisis faced by hundreds of UK schools

Hundreds of schools across the UK are facing urgent safety concerns regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, also known as RAAC.

RAAC is acknowledged to be substantially weaker than other forms of concrete usually used in construction, it is known for its bubbly appearance, RAAC is most commonly found in roofs where it is placed in panels in between steel beams, RAAC becomes dangerous over time as panels slowly bend onto their own weight, eventually collapsing.

Structural issues in schools across the country caused by RAAC were found following the closure of Our Lady’s Catholic High School in Preston where RAAC roofing panels collapsed. A full list of over 150 schools in England that have closed, shut buildings or moved has since been published by the BBC, while at least 12 schools in Scotland have been identified. Schools and colleges in Northern Ireland and Wales are currently being surveyed for RAAC. 

The Department for Education (DfE) has instructed over 100 schools to either fully or just partially shut buildings just days before the new academic year begins, parents whose children are affected by the disruption caused are left in uncertainty as to whether their schools will open again. News of faulty RAAC has also put fear into the minds of thousands of parents nationwide concerned about whether their child’s school was constructed using RAAC, and if their child’s school is safe.

As of yet, the DfE has not published a full comprehensive list detailing exactly what schools are affected, but Nick Gibb the Minister of State for Schools has pledged to release a list in due course causing speculation as to whether or not the government even knows the extent of the problem.

Labour has heavily criticised the government’s handling of the situation with shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson saying “It’s time ministers were transparent about their handling of this debacle: if they still refuse to publish these documents and give parents the reassurances they deserve about the risks to their children safety, then we will force a vote in parliament next week”.

Earlier this week, a school trust in Dulwich, London was fined £80, 000 after a classroom ceiling collapsed in 2021 injuring 15 schoolchildren and a teacher.