Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is set to announce a commitment today to remove deteriorating concrete from all schools and colleges before the upcoming election. Despite the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in school buildings across England two years ago, many children are still studying in these unsafe structures.
A report by the Mirror in 2023 revealed that approximately 100 education facilities were instructed to close affected buildings immediately unless safety measures were implemented. Following three roof collapses in 2023, the Government allocated funding to address the issue, but the removal of the hazardous material from schools is still in progress.
In an article for the Mirror, Phillipson emphasized the importance of providing equal opportunities for every child regardless of their location. She highlighted the urgent need to address the deteriorating conditions in schools, stating that the current situation reflects poorly on the education system.
Phillipson outlined a plan to ensure that by the end of the current Parliament term, all schools and colleges in England not undergoing substantial reconstruction will be free from RAAC. Additionally, projects for schools requiring reconstruction will be actively progressing. The goal is to create a conducive learning environment for every student in the country.
Out of approximately 22,000 schools and colleges in England, 237 were identified to have crumbling concrete issues. The Department for Education confirmed that 62 of these establishments have already had RAAC permanently removed, showing progress in addressing the safety concerns in educational buildings.
