Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Acknowledged
RAAC crisis highlights ageing, fragile school estate requiring more than incremental fixes.
Conclusion
The RAAC crisis highlighted a deeper, systemic issue: the ageing and fragile condition of England’s school estate. RAAC is not the only issue of concern within the wider school estate. While we welcome the Government’s commitment to publish a long-term strategy and its recent steps to improve standards and oversight, the evidence is clear that incremental fixes will not suffice. A significant proportion of school buildings are beyond their design life, and the risks though managed remain real. (Conclusion, Paragraph 48)
Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the Education Committee's report and states that the committee's findings contribute meaningfully to the Education Estates Strategy, backed by a 10-year plan for a decade of national renewal to transform schools and colleges in England.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government welcomes the Education Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2024–26, Foundations of Learning: replacing RAAC and securing school buildings (HC 1399), and thanks the Committee for its thorough examination of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in schools and for the broader consideration of the condition, management and long- term resilience of the education estate. The Committee’s findings contribute meaningfully to our wider programme of work, set out in the Education Estates Strategy, which sets out plans for an education estate that supports opportunity for all. It is backed by a 10-year plan for a decade of national renewal to transform schools and colleges in England. High-quality and inspiring school and college buildings are essential to delivering world-class education and creating the conditions for all children and young people to achieve and thrive. We know the built environment is important – evidence suggests that learning in buildings that are in