Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Accepted
DfE expects RAAC issues to resolve within weeks, with variable timeframes for complex cases
Conclusion
We asked DfE about when all RAAC-related issues on the school estate might be resolved, given that members of the government had talked in early September about the timeframe being a matter of weeks. DfE expressed confidence that it would receive all the remaining questionnaire returns, and carry out the necessary specialist surveys, within a small number of weeks. It also expected that, where RAAC had already been confirmed, all pupils should be back in face-to-face learning within a couple of weeks. However, DfE also emphasised that some cases would be more complicated than others, and that timeframes would therefore vary.34 Incomplete knowledge on asbestos
Government Response Summary
The government states that the RAAC identification programme is complete, a final list of 234 affected settings was published on 8 February 2024, and funding for permanent RAAC removal will be provided through the School Rebuilding Programme for 119 schools and grant funding for 110 schools.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
2.6 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.7 There are over 22,000 schools and colleges in England and the vast majority are unaffected by RAAC. 2.8 All responsible bodies for schools and colleges with blocks built in the target era have submitted responses to the questionnaire. The Department for Education’s RAAC identification programme is complete, and the questionnaire has closed. A final list of schools and colleges with confirmed cases of RAAC in England was published on 8 February 2024. Any school or college that advised us they suspect they might have RAAC has had a survey to confirm if RAAC is present. Other than the 234 education settings, the surveys found no evidence of RAAC. A small number of schools and colleges are carrying out additional checks for further assurance in some spaces. The department is working with responsible bodies to support them to complete these additional checks as quickly as possible. As these final checks are completed, the department expects the number of further cases to be very low. This has been the case over the last two months, where only three cases have been identified. 2.9 No pupils in England are learning in buildings with confirmed RAAC, unless those buildings have had measures implemented to make them safe. 2.10 The government has committed to remove RAAC from the school and college estate for good. The department is funding the removal of RAAC present in school and colleges either through grants, or through the School Rebuilding Programme. The longer-term requirements of each school or college will vary depending on the extent of the issue and nature and design of the buildings. Permanently removing RAAC may involve refurbishment of existing buildings or rebuilding affected buildings. 2.11 On 8 February 2024 the department confirmed to schools and colleges how it will fund them to remove RAAC permanently. 119 schools are being included within the School Rebuilding Programme where works to remove RAAC are more extensive or complex. 110 schools and colleges will receive grant funding where works will typically be smaller in scale. Five schools and colleges have alternative arrangements in place, for example, the building will not be part of the school or college estate over the longer term.