Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support schools with buildings with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

The safety of pupils and staff is vital. It is the responsibility of those who run schools to manage the safety and maintenance of their schools and alert us if there is a concern with a building. This is typically academy trusts, Local Authorities, and voluntary aided school bodies. The Department provides support on a case by case basis, working with the sector when we are alerted to a serious safety issue.

Where it is suspected that reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) is present in a school, the Department takes swift action based on professional advice.

In cases where RAAC is confirmed, the Department provides rapid support to schools on the advice of structural engineers. This could include funding capital works to remove any immediate risk and, where absolutely necessary, the provision of temporary buildings.

The Department provides support to schools and responsible bodies and has allocated over £15 billion since 2015 to keep schools safe and operational. This includes £1.8 billion committed this financial year, informed by consistent data on the school estate. In addition, the Department’s School Rebuilding Programme will transform 500 schools over the next decade, prioritising schools in poor condition.