Concrete Crisis: Raac Hits 174 Schools in England
New government figures reveal the number of English schools affected by dangerous crumbling concrete has jumped to 174. That’s 27 more than the 147 reported just two weeks ago on August 30th.
Raac: The Concrete Timebomb in Schools
The culprit is reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) – a cheap, lightweight material used from the 1950s to 1990s in flat roofs, floors, and walls. Raac was popular for being affordable but lasts only around 30 years before it starts to decay.
Surveyors have been combing schools across England, checking for this ticking timebomb. With its brittle nature, the presence of Raac has raised serious safety alarms in classrooms nationwide.
Government Action and Safety Measures
The government promises to update the list of Raac-affected schools every two weeks to keep parents and staff informed. Of the 174 schools confirmed with Raac, 123 have already put safety measures in place to allow students back on-site without risk.
Despite the scare, no schools remain fully closed due to Raac since the summer holidays. This is a massive turnaround from earlier reports showing 19 schools either shut or delaying term over the issue.
Remote Learning Nearly History
Only one school still runs fully remote lessons, down from four just a fortnight ago. Meanwhile, 23 schools offer mixed face-to-face and online teaching – a slight rise from 20 in late August.
The Raac crisis is evolving, but the latest data shows progress in managing this concrete catastrophe.
