Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Acknowledged
DfE's central temporary classroom contracts proving ineffective for some responsible bodies
Conclusion
DfE explained that it hoped to use the central contracts to enable speedier delivery of temporary classrooms to all RAAC-affected schools who needed them, and to pay for them centrally—including for specialist equipment within the classroom where 17 September 2023 session, Qq 117, 140–141 18 September 2023 session, Qq 121, 139 19 September 2023 session, Qq 127–133 20 Department for Education, Guidance for Responsible Bodies and education settings with confirmed RAAC in their buildings, September 2023, page 3 21 Public Accounts Committee, oral evidence, New Hospital Programme, HC 1754, 7 September 2023, Qq 4, 8, 19–20 22 September 2023 session, Q 195 23 September 2023 session, Qq 113–114 The condition of school buildings 13 appropriate—out of its capital funding allocations. However, DfE conceded that in some cases responsible bodies had decided to procure temporary classrooms themselves because they felt the DfE route was not delivering what they needed.24
Government Response Summary
The government states it is funding emergency works, including temporary buildings, and has assigned caseworkers to support schools with bespoke plans. It highlights efforts to process requests quickly, ensure processes are not burdensome, and arrange urgent payments, implying improvements to the support system.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 3.2 The department is funding emergency capital works needed to mitigate the presence of RAAC in schools and colleges in England. This could include installing structural strengthening or temporary buildings. All reasonable requests for additional help with revenue costs, like transport to locations or temporarily renting a local hall, are being approved. 3.3 Every school or college with confirmed RAAC has been assigned dedicated support from a team of caseworkers. They have worked with them to put in place a bespoke plan that supports face-to-face education for all pupils as soon as possible based on their circumstances and provide support to access funding. 3.4 The department is working closely with responsible bodies to process requests as quickly as possible and ensure processes are not burdensome, while providing proportionate levels of assurance. The department has kept its processes and guidance under review. The department can also arrange urgent payments where necessary, if for example, a responsible body has cash-flow challenges. 3.5 The government has committed to remove RAAC from the school and college estate for good. Schools and colleges have been offered capital grants to fund refurbishment work to permanently remove RAAC, or rebuilding projects where these are needed, including through the School Rebuilding Programme.