The Department for Education has published this morning (19 October) a list of 43 new schools found to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
The announcement brings the total number of schools where RAAC is present to 214. Three schools initially thought to have RAAC were found not to contain it after initial tests.
As of 16 October, no schools are closed or carrying out remote learning, according to the DfE. Twelve education settings continue delivering a mix of face-to-face and remote arrangements. The remaining 202 schools that have RAAC continue having full in-person education.
The 43 new schools added to the DfE list are:
| Atherton St George’s CofE Primary School |
| Bushey and Oxhey Infant School |
| Camborne College (part of Cornwall College) |
| Cann Hall Primary School |
| Cheddington Combined School |
| Christ Church Church of England Academy |
| Churchfield CofE Academy |
| Crossflatts Primary School |
| Dean Trust Rose Bridge |
| Dixons Broadgreen Academy |
| Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy |
| Elm Hall Primary School |
| Exmouth Community College |
| Golden Flatts Primary School |
| Gordano School |
| Greenway Junior School |
| Havant Academy |
| Kings College Guildford |
| Knuzden St Oswald’s Church of England Primary Academy |
| Links Academy |
| Manningtree High School |
| Newmarket Academy |
| Peterborough College (part of Inspire Education Group) |
| Priory Primary School, Bicknacre |
| Shelley College, A Share Academy |
| Shoeburyness High School |
| Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School |
| Southview School |
| Spring Meadow Primary School & School House Nursery |
| St Aloysius RC College |
| St Anne’s Catholic Primary School |
| St Bernard’s RC Primary School, Bolton |
| St Edward’s Catholic Academy |
| St Mary Magdalene CofE Primary School |
| St Mary’s Priory RC Infant School |
| St Stephen and All Martyrs’ CofE School, Lever Bridge |
| Stowupland High School |
| Thameside Primary School |
| The Grove Primary Academy |
| The Magna Carta School |
| Watford Grammar School for Boys |
| Westside School |
| Winchmore School |
RAAC is an aerated lightweight form of concrete with no coarse aggregate. The material properties and structural behaviour therefore differ significantly from ‘traditional’ reinforced concrete.
The Standing Committee on Structural Safety report, issued in May 2019, highlighted the significant risk of failure of these planks. In September 2022, the Office of Government Property sent a Safety Briefing Notice to all property leaders, regarding the dangers of RAAC, stating that “RAAC is now life-expired and liable to collapse”.
DfE has also updated its guidance on how to find RAAC and what to do.
This article was updated on 19 October after clarification from the DfE on the total number of new schools with confirmed RAAC.
