Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is set to announce a commitment to removing deteriorating concrete from all schools and colleges by the upcoming election. Despite the discovery of dangerous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in school buildings across England two years ago, many students are still studying in such facilities.
In 2023, it was revealed that approximately 100 education settings were warned to close affected buildings immediately unless safety measures were in place due to the presence of RAAC. Following three roof collapses in the same year, the government allocated funding to eliminate the hazardous material from schools, but the removal process is still in progress.
In a statement featured in the Mirror, Phillipson emphasized the need for equal opportunities for all students regardless of their location. She highlighted the current state of schools with crumbling concrete structures and substandard classrooms, attributing the situation to the previous government’s neglect in the education sector.
Phillipson outlined a plan to ensure that every school and college in England not undergoing substantial reconstruction will be free of RAAC by the end of the current Parliament. Additionally, she guaranteed that all projects involving school rebuilds will be advancing in some capacity.
The Education Secretary emphasized the importance of providing students with inspiring learning environments free of dilapidated conditions. The goal is to create a national renewal by demonstrating a government that values students’ well-being and academic success.
Out of approximately 22,000 schools and colleges in England, 237 were identified to have crumbling concrete, with 62 having already undergone permanent removal of RAAC, as confirmed by the Department for Education today.