Leader of Redbridge Council calls on government to provide funding for schools impacted by RAAC

Update: published Friday 15 September

Following updated guidance from the Department for Education (DfE), all schools have done or are doing visual inspections of their buildings. Some schools were built outside the timeframe when RAAC was used and, therefore, have no risk.

Following the visual inspections at all other schools, the local authority will carry out building surveys over the next few weeks. Notification of RAAC will be provided to DfE if confirmed by the building survey. 

A recent building survey at Mossford Green Primary confirmed that the school is unlikely to contain RAAC, and the DfE have been sent the report and photos. The DfE will decide whether a more detailed technical survey is required, but the school remains open. 

Following updated guidance from the Department for Education (DfE), all schools have done or are doing visual inspections of their buildings. Some schools were built outside the timeframe when RAAC was used and, therefore, have no risk.

Following the visual inspections at all other schools, the local authority will carry out building surveys over the next few weeks. Notification of RAAC will be provided to DfE if confirmed by the building survey.

A recent building survey at Mossford Green Primary confirmed that the school is unlikely to contain RAAC, and the DfE have been sent the report and photos. The DfE will decide whether a more detailed technical survey is required, but the school remains open.

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The Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, is demanding the government makes funding available to schools to organise essential surveys to determine the existence of RAAC on school sites. 

Cllr Athwal has written to the Secretary of State for Education today to call for immediate action to address the RAAC crisis. 

Cllr Athwal said:

"The government's failure to address systemic underinvestment in school estates across the country has led to a national crisis impacting untold numbers of students, schools, and wider school communities.

"As the Leader of Redbridge Council and a parent of children who attended schools in my borough, I share the deep frustration of families across Redbridge who face uncertainty over their children's education this week. Our council has stepped up support for local schools, and we are doing all we can to guide them through this incredibly challenging period. However, this crisis necessitates an immediate and proportionate government response, which so far has been lacking. 

"Schools cannot be expected to conduct visual inspections of their sites and report accurate assessments to the Department for Education; this process is unreliable by its very nature – concrete can be painted over or otherwise disguised - and school staff do not, and should not be expected to, have the expertise to determine what is RAAC purely by sight. The government must announce funding for professional surveys conducted at schools as soon as possible.

"The safety of children, young people, and school staff must be treated as a government priority and not delegated either to schools themselves or to local authorities who, following over a decade of austerity, face our funding crises."

Concerns around RAAC in schools and public buildings have already caused significant disruption, necessitating emergency visual inspections and, in some cases, alternative provision. Delays to professional surveys caused by lack of government funding will cause further unacceptable disruption to the education of children and young people. 

Redbridge Council has shared the Department for Education (DfE) guidance with schools, including information on conducting visual inspections. 

The visual inspections were conducted by school site managers, based on DfE guidance, and not qualified surveyors. To confirm the presence of RAAC, qualified surveyors must conduct a full investigation. 

Of the schools that suspect they may have RAAC, alternative arrangements have been put in place.

In the meantime, we are continuing to work closely with the senior leadership teams of our affected schools to reduce and mitigate any disruption to their teaching. 

Read the full letter here.