Tories are failing as 104 schools can't reopen because buildings are crumbling
Pupils at 104 schools in England face “absolute chaos” after being told their classrooms are unsafe.
Days before the new term, they were ordered to stay away from buildings with dangerous concrete. Labour’s Steve Reed said: “The fabric of our public sector is literally crumbling."
Parents reacted with despair and fury after being told just days before the start of the new term that their children faced disruption due to the risk of their schools collapsing.
The Department for Education is still refusing to publish a full list of the 104 schools found to have sub-standard reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), insisting that parents would hear from the schools directly. As heads scrambled to source temporary buildings, the parents of children with special needs at Kingsdown School in Southend, Essex, were told it had to shut.
Headteacher Louise Robinson said: “Instead of preparing to welcome our students back to class, we’re having to call parents to have very difficult conversations about the fact the school is closed next week. We’re hoping that a solution can be found that allows us to open the school, at least partially, but that entirely relies on ensuring the safety of our pupils and staff, and approval by the DfE.”
In Leicester, Parks Primary, Mayflower Primary School and Willowbrook Mead Primary Academy all face disruption due to RAAC. Parks Primary School, where Caroline Evans is head, found out there were problems before the end of term. The school has had to relocate several classes since RAAC was found back in May.
Head teacher Caroline Evans next to taped off section of Parks Primary School in Leicester (PA)A city council spokesman said: “Three schools in Leicester have been told that they have buildings affected by RAAC. We worked very closely with them to arrange alternative accommodation in order to ensure in-person teaching was able to continue as quickly as possible.”
Richard Kemp, a parent at a primary school in Canvey, Essex, which has been forced to partially close, told ITV News it was a “massive frustration”. He said: ‘We want our children to be safe, but the notice period seems ridiculously short. It’s a real concern because we were unaware that this information was out there. So it’s concerning that for five years my children have been in a school that was potentially really dangerous.”
Some students at Corpus Christi Catholic primary in Brixton, south London, have had to be moved after RAAC was found in the roof. Jane Frances, 46, who has two children at the school, said she now faced a “double drop-off and pick-up” as her daughter will have to travel to a different location about a mile away for the start of term, while her son will stay in the “safe and useable” part of the school.
She told the BBC : “It’s disruptive, but actually you can’t take any chances with the children’s safety.” Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who represents the area, told the Mirror parents were “obviously extremely concerned”. She said: “They don’t know how long all of this disruption is going to take and how it’s going to affect children’s learning.”
Essex appears to be one of the worst-hit areas, with some 50 school buildings known to have RAAC. Hayley, whose child is at a secondary in Colchester, described the situation as a “nightmare”. Students from certain year groups will attend on some days while others work from home, and vice versa. She posted: “They’ve had 6 weeks to make this decision. Perfect time for schools to make the changes,”
Schools minister Nick Gibb has admitted more schools face potential closure and some pupils could be out of the classes for six days. He claimed new evidence emerged over the summer and “even as late as last week” that concrete regarded as safe had failed. This included a beam in one building collapsing over the holidays that had “no sign on the external that it was a critical risk”.
Clearing out Willowbrook Mead Primary Academy in Leicester (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)The Mirror revealed earlier this week that there was a serious risk of school closures after internal DfE documents raised “serious concerns” over RAAC panels in classrooms. Fears have also been raised over the safety of other public buildings, such as hospitals, built using RAAC from the 1950s to mid-1990s.
Labour frontbencher Steve Reed said: “After 13 years of Conservative failure, the fabric of our public sector is literally crumbling.” Liberal Democrat Daisy Cooper said: “It is a national scandal that children are being taught in crumbling classrooms while patients are treated in hospitals with roofs at risk of collapse.” Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner called for an urgent audit of RAAC in all public sector buildings.
She said: “The safety of the public is not being taken seriously by this reckless Tory Government. If public safety is at risk, we need to know.” National Education Union boss Daniel Kebede told the Mirror: “Parents have been kept in the dark. It’s absolute chaos what is unfolding and completely unnecessary.
“The Government has been well aware of this state of the school estate and well aware of RAAC and its implications. They’ve left it to the eleventh-hour. It’s completely disastrous and a symptom of a chaotic government that doesn’t know what it’s doing.”
‘I’d be happy for family to sit in propped-up rooms’
The Schools Minister has said he would be happy for his young relatives to sit in a classroom under a propped-up ceiling. Nick Gibb was quizzed by LBC presenter Nick Ferrari about fears over crumbling schools in England.
The radio host asked: “In all honesty, Nick, would you be happy with your nieces and nephews sitting in a classroom under propped-up RSJ?” The Tory minister replied: “Yes… because we’re taking a very precautionary approach. Some say we’re being overcautious in dealing with this, but the advice is that you can prop up these beams.”
However, Mr Gibb later added: “Where they are in a more dangerous condition, of course, we take that room out of it altogether.” Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson fumed: “Children sat underneath steel girders to protect them from the ceiling falling in: the defining image of thirteen years of a Conservative-run education system.”
The key questions answered
What is RAAC and why is it dangerous?
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete is a lightweight “bubbly” form of concrete widely used from the 1950s and 1990s because it was cheaper. It’s also less durable with a lifespan of just 30 years after which it may collapse with little or no notice.
How many schools have RAAC?
At this point 156 schools are known to have it but the real number is likely to be far higher. So far this year 52 have put measures in place, with many moving pupils to other areas. But a further 104 now have to close or partially close.
Are just schools affected?
No. Seven hospitals are being rebuilt because of extensive RAAC and other public buildings are also being checked. Schools minister Nick Gibb said: “Right across the public sector we are surveying the estate. You’ve heard of a court closing at Harrow. We are taking action, of course. Hospitals have teams monitoring buildings the whole time.
Were there warnings?
Plenty. A ceiling collapsed at a Kent primary school in 2018. In 2021 the Government said the possibility of a collapse causing death or injury was a “very likely” risk. In June the National Audit Office warned that 24,000 school buildings in England – more than a third of the total – were past their initial design life. Around 700,000 children were being taught in schools that need extensive updating.
Is underfunding to blame?
It’s hard to claim otherwise. In 2020 the Department for Education recommended £5.3billion a year should be spent tackling the risk.
However, in the six years since 2017 just £2.3billion has been spent.
Which schools are closing?
The Government won’t reveal the 104 schools and colleges ordered to shut buildings. Mr Gibb said: “We want schools to talk to parents before they read about it in the media.”
When were parents told?
Many were told on Thursday while others found out yesterday.
How long will affected children be out of school?
This will vary depending on school capacity in the surrounding area but Mr Gibb said many could be out for over a week.
Why are parents being told so late?
Mr Gibb claimed new evidence found over the summer gave them no choice but to act. It concerned buildings in this country and overseas – not just schools – where RAA considered non-critical had failed.
Will more schools follow?
Mr Gibb admitted more schools may be hit. He added: “It’s in 156 schools. There may be more as we continue to do more surveying work.”
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