Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Accepted in Part
Clarify DfE's school estate safety risk appetite and publish its RAAC eradication plan.
Conclusion
DfE’s risk appetite regarding the school estate, and how this aligns with its recent approach on RAAC, appears unclear. Since summer 2021, DfE has recognised a significant safety risk across the school estate. In spring 2023, it continued to assess that its mitigations would not bring the risk likelihood down to acceptable levels, and considered that the most effective further mitigation would be an expanded School Rebuilding Programme. In late August 2023, DfE took what it considers to be a highly risk-averse approach of advising all schools with confirmed RAAC to avoid using spaces where RAAC was present, regardless of any assessment of its structural condition. It is unclear whether DfE took this action because it realised its RAAC assessment and assurance process was insufficient, or because it now no longer wanted to accept any risks across the school estate. Where schools have responded to the questionnaire saying they believe they have RAAC, but are still awaiting a specialist survey to confirm it, they are not being advised to take any mitigating action. DHSC has established a £685 million fund to 2024–25 to mitigate RAAC, and has committed to remove RAAC from the NHS estate by 2035. DfE has made no such financial or practical commitments. Recommendation 2a: DfE should clarify its risk appetite with regard to safety issues across the school estate and ensure that this feeds through into consistent decision-making, with a nominated senior official in charge. b) In line with the approach already taken by DHSC, DfE should make clear when and how it plans to have eradicated RAAC from the school estate. 6 The condition of school buildings
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepted, agreeing to clarify risk appetite with risks owned at Director General level, but did not commit to a clear timeline or financial plan for eradicating RAAC, stating technical advice does not recommend removal in all cases.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 All pupils must learn in safe buildings. The responsibility for keeping school buildings safe and compliant with relevant regulations lies with schools and their responsible bodies – local authorities, academy trusts, or voluntary aided school bodies. The department supports them by providing access to annual capital funding, rebuilding programmes and extensive guidance and support, including on specific risks. It has always been the case that where the department is alerted to a serious issue with a building that poses a risk to safety immediate action is taken with responsible bodies. Where serious issues cannot be managed independently by responsible bodies, the department provides additional support on a case-by-case basis. 2.3 The safety of pupils and staff is the department’s absolute priority, which is why it took immediate further action on RAAC when new evidence emerged over the summer of 2023. The department acted with the utmost caution in addressing the risk for the education estate, although the technical advice does not recommend removal in all cases where it is present. The department has established a comprehensive plan to mitigate and permanently resolve it. 2.4 The principal risks being managed by the department and owned at Director General level, are managed on a day-to-day basis in the relevant director’s area to help ensure a consistent approach. 2.5 The department keeps under review how it can best support responsible bodies to meet their duties to manage the estate safely and effectively.