More than 100 schools told to close buildings over safety fears

My GDs' former primary school was closed in the summer term for this. Why has it taken so long?

Better now than wait for an accident to happen.

Huge concern and this was known for a while. Even the BBC reported on it a while ago. Hospitals also need to be checked urgently and no doubt lots of other buildings.

It’s such terrible timing just before most schools return for the new year. If they had known just six weeks ago they would have had time to sort out alternative accommodation over the school holidays.

This from April 2021 -

www.s2e.org.uk/news/what-is-the-problem-with-reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac

Our health centre is not quite back to working properly after legionella lasting over 6 months. Now it's been listed as having concrete that's dangerous!

Casdon

It’s such terrible timing just before most schools return for the new year. If they had known just six weeks ago they would have had time to sort out alternative accommodation over the school holidays.

I thought they had known for a lot longer than that.

By they I mean the Government as head teachers have been reporting problems and trying to deal with this for some time now.

A woman on TV said they had known about her school since 2018. I've reached a point where nothing surprises me any more.

Too little, far too late - just as expected from this government, so no surprise to me either.

Apparently, schools are supposed to pay for any temporary, alternative accommodation, out of their already inadequate budgets.
The government has sat on this for at least five years, why?

A prep school near me has recently been fined £800,000 under H and S regulations as a ceiling collapsed on top of a class of children, fortunately no one seriously injured but more by luck than anything. Maybe that case has spurred our zombie government into some kind of too late action.

They have known for 5 years, but nothing was done, apparently.

The government have told schools to use temporary buildings, but won't be funding any of the rental costs etc,

"Elsewhere, Association of School and College Leaders policy director Julie McCulloch accused the government of being too slow to respond.

“The danger of structural failure in school buildings where this type of concrete was used in construction has been known since at least 2018”, Ms McCulloch said."

www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools-affected-by-raac-concrete-b2403037.html

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12468429/Fury-government-schools-close-buildings-concrete.html

It seems as though notjing is functioning properly in this country.🙄

My DH heard from a family member in Scotland that the School in the area they went to has closed for the same reason, so not just England. These children are now in temp buildings as the school year has started.

it seems as though nothing is functioning properly in this country
I accept the pandemic dominated for a while but that can’t be used to excuse the awful government we are living with. This latest crisis, like the others we live with, didn’t just appear, unexpectedly, overnight.
The government blames everyone else but we’ve had the conservatives in for over a decade.

CoolCoco

A prep school near me has recently been fined £800,000 under H and S regulations as a ceiling collapsed on top of a class of children, fortunately no one seriously injured but more by luck than anything. Maybe that case has spurred our zombie government into some kind of too late action.

I read this was because the school in question had used the floor above inappropriately as storage for equipment that was too heavy to bear the load. Hence the fine. Different problem altogether.

Attlee

Apparently, schools are supposed to pay for any temporary, alternative accommodation, out of their already inadequate budgets.
The government has sat on this for at least five years, why?

The Schools Minister has just said on the news that all capital costs i.e. tenting of temporary building/classrooms will be paid by the Government.

renting not tenting

It's all very well saying that schools can rent alternative accommodation, but some secondary schools have more than 1,000 pupils. Where on earth is accommodation big enough for them to be found? At short notice, too.

Though it's a relief to know that the government will pay the rental costs.

However, under those circumstances, you would have thought that schools might be able to draw on their experience of giving virtual lessons during lockdowns.

Has anybody seen a list of which schools are affected?

There seems to be mixed messages coming from government, over who is funding what:

"The DfE said it was taking a “precautionary and proactive step”, adding: “This decision has been made with an abundance of caution.”

"Schools will have to pay for emergency accommodation and transport."

Headteachers said this was an “absolutely ridiculous expectation given the huge pressures on school budgets” and vowed to fight back."

www.theguardian.com/education/2023/aug/31/thousands-of-pupils-may-have-to-start-term-online-as-over-100-schools-affected-by-crumble-risk-concrete

Casdon

Has anybody seen a list of which schools are affected?

No, many parents have not been told yet. According to Nick Gibb on LBC, , this problem may also affect some hospitals and court buildings.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12468987/Parents-devastated-100-schools-ordered-close-new-team-concrete-safety-concerns-pupils-facing-Covid-style-online-learning.html

I think initial surveys stated that schools could continue to operate although this material was used if suitable supported (Acroprops and the like), but, a decade has passed and the material has decayed further, hence the current panic.

It seems this material only had an estimated life of 30 years. What possessed anyone to think it was a suitable material to use in constructing buildings intended to stay in use for more than 20 years (allowing for a margin of safety?

Schools Minister, Nick Gibb didn't improve matters on Today this a.m., toeing the party line.
There has been no list published of affected schools as yet. It is up to parents to contact their school.
It is an extremely difficult task to find suitable accomodation in the locality and again this could and should have been prevented before this time. It has been known at least since 2018. Look how the budget for scvhools has been cut over time.