Only one school in Royal Borough has risky RAAC concrete, says council

The Royal Borough has addressed the situation over the presence of potentially unsafe concrete in its schools following national concerns.

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) has become problematic for school buildings because it is weaker than traditional concrete and poses increased danger.

The Royal Borough is the responsible body for community and voluntary controlled schools. It commissioned a RAAC survey of it school buildings in 2022. No RAAC was found.

The council is ‘not currently aware’ of any RAAC at any school in the borough other than St Francis Catholic Primary School which has RAAC problems - but ‘continue[s] to monitor the situation.’

Concerns were raised last week by parents of children at St Francis Catholic Primary School in Ascot. RAAC was identified in part of the school in July 2023, and the affected areas were closed.

In liaison with the Department for Education (DfE) and the council, the academy trust responsible for St Francis has arranged alternative classroom accommodation.

This has allowed the school to re-open to all pupils at the start of the new academic year.

But because of the RAAC, it is unable to use some classrooms, the school hall, and most of its kitchen area, the school informed parents on August 25.

The children whose classrooms are affected are relocating to temporary classrooms on the school field. There is also to be a ‘high spec’ temporary hall and kitchen on the field.

This work is set to go on for about another four weeks.

The DfE agreed to the use of marquees for the start of term, so the school can ‘avoid remote learning’ as the only other option.

It will not have a working kitchen until half-term and is unable to offer hot school meals, instead offering grab bags.

Headteacher Rhona Miccoli said in a letter to parents: “Whilst the use of marquees is not ideal, it does mean that face to face education can take place at the start of this academic year, with no interruption to our children’s learning.”

New measures to minimise the impact of RAAC in education settings were published onThursday (August 31) by the Government.

Building maintenance is the duty of councils and academy trusts.

But new RAAC cases have ‘reduced the Department for Education’s confidence’ that school and college buildings with confirmed RAAC should remain open without mitigations in place.   

Last week the Department contacted all 104 settings remaining where RAAC is currently used, without mitigations in place.

They will be asked to vacate spaces or buildings that are known to contain RAAC. 

Officials from the DfE have also contacted responsible bodies directly to ‘remind them of the need to ensure that these plans are in place.’

Since 2015, £15billion has been invested ‘to keep schools safe and operational’ and buildings at 500 schools ‘will be transformed over the next decade.’

A DfE spokesperson said: “The safety of pupils and teachers is our utmost priority.

“We urge all school leaders and local authorities to get in touch with us immediately if they have any concerns about their school building so immediate action can be taken.”

Academies and voluntary aided schools are responsible for their own buildings and for carrying out RAAC checks.

Councillor Amy Tisi, cabinet member for children’s services, education and Windsor, said: “We understand this is a worrying time for schools, parents and pupils.

“The Royal Borough continues to work closely with the Department of Education on its programme of RAAC identification in schools, and schools will keep parents updated with any developments.”

Windsor MP Adam Afriyie said: “St Francis is a fabulous school but unfortunately a building survey has determined that safety works must be carried out.

“Having visited the school, I am confident that the head teacher, staff, Department for Education and contractors are working as fast as possible to erect temporary accommodation on site so that the children’s studies can continue.

“There may be a few days delay, given the scale of the works required but I suspect that the children will enjoy the adventure.”

St Francis Catholic Primary School in Ascot declined to comment beyond the DfE statement.

In Slough, there is also just the one school with RAAC, Pippins Primary School on Raymond Close (Colnbrook & Poyle). All parents have been informed.

A Slough Borough Council spokesperson said:

“We have checked all our schools where the local authority has responsibility for the buildings. Only one school has any RAAC and it is at the low end of risk and does not involve any classroom spaces. Talks are ongoing with the school on the best way forward and they will be releasing information to their parents.”