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The collapse of a single beam sparked the unsafe concrete warning that has affected 104 schools across the UK, it has been revealed.
The schools have been ordered to fully or partially close by the Department for Education (DfE), as they have buildings made using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) which could suddenly collapse.
Schools minister Nick Gibb told the BBC about the incident which sparked the closure: ‘What we discovered over the summer was a number of instances, in schools and in non-schools, in England and outside England, where RAAC that had been considered to be a low risk actually turned out to be unsafe.
‘So over the summer – given this evidence – we had to take a decision. And some of that evidence, by the way, was as late as last week. We had to then decide what to do given the previous advice.
‘A beam that had no sign… that it was a critical risk and was thought to be safe collapsed.’
Parents have been left unsure of how to find out whether their child’s school has been affected, but an initial list has since been published by the DfE with promises of a full list to come.
The state of England’s schools buildings were initially revealed in a report in June by public spending watchdog the National Audit Office.
But Mr Gibb insisted ‘we took the decision as soon as the evidence emerged’ following anger that the announcement came just days before the start of theautumn term.
It is estimated around 24 schools have been told to close completely, with 700,000 pupils thought to be learning in schools that require major rebuilding or refurbishment.
Mr Gibb warned further closures may come, though it will only be a ‘small number’.
‘There may be more after that as these questionnaires continue to be surveyed and we continue to do more surveying work,’ he told GB News.
What is RAAC?
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) is a lightweight building material used from the 1950s up to the mid-1990s, but now assessed to be at risk of collapse.
It’s a ‘bubbly’ form of concrete usually found in roofs and occasionally in walls and floors.
It looks like normal concrete, but it’s weaker and less durable. RAAC was favoured in construction projects because of its lightweight thermal properties.
Experts say the building material is less durable than reinforced concrete and deteriorates over time, so is susceptible to sudden failure.
It has a life expectancy of little more than 30 years and this means buildings constructed from the 1950s to the 1990s that have not been checked by structural engineers are at risk of collapse.
RAAC is also prone to collapse when wet – which can happen if a building’s roof leaks.
He also added parents ‘shouldn’t worry’ if their child’s school hasn’t told them it will be shut or partially closed.
‘That’s a very cautious approach, so parents can be confident that if they’ve not been contacted by their school it is safe to send children back into school,’ he said.
National Education Union general secretary, Daniel Kebede, said: ‘It is absolutely disgraceful, and a sign of gross government incompetence, that a few days before the start of term 104 schools are finding out that some or all of their buildings are unsafe and cannot be used.
‘To add insult to injury the government states in its guidance that it will not be covering the costs of emergency temporary accommodation or additional transport.’
But Mr Gibb promised: ‘We’re going to clarify the guidance because of their misinterpretation, we are paying for those costs.
‘If in the worst-case scenario a school does have to close and we put Portakabins into the grounds, all that cost will be covered by the department.’
Other public buildings including courts and hospitals were also constructed using RAAC and may be affected.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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