The partial collapse of a roof at a primary school in Kent in 2018 was described as a “near miss” by the Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS). The collapse occurred during a weekend when the school was unoccupied, preventing potential injuries or fatalities. This incident prompted SCOSS to issue a warning, emphasizing that the collapse was sudden with minimal warning signs.
As a result, the government has ordered the closure of over 100 schools in England that have confirmed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) buildings, just days before the autumn term begins. Ministers anticipate an increase in the number of closures after completing a survey of nearly 600 at-risk buildings. These closures will significantly disrupt students’ education, either through remote learning, temporary classrooms, or school transfers.
Raac is a type of concrete filled with air bubbles that is weaker and less durable than traditional concrete. It was used in the construction of buildings with flat roofs between the 1950s and 1990s in the UK, although the exact number is unknown. Typically, Raac has a lifespan of 30 years before replacement is necessary. However, poor construction practices have compounded the risks associated with Raac buildings.
Despite numerous warnings about Raac, ministers have disregarded these concerns since a 1990s SCOSS report highlighted the dangers. The Local Government Association has been raising alarm bells since 2018, and building professionals expressed increasing concerns about defective Raac planks in school buildings in 2020. In 2022, the Institution of Structural Engineers warned that not all imperfections in Raac buildings are visible, and the Office of Government Property issued an alert categorizing Raac as “life-expired” and prone to collapse.
Therefore, it is insufficient for ministers to attribute the recent order to new information acquired over the summer. Leak internal government memos have revealed senior civil servants’ knowledge of dilapidated school sites that pose a “risk to life.” The pressing question remains how this hazardous situation will be resolved. Replacing and modifying Raac-constructed buildings is expensive, leaving schools to cover additional revenue costs without sufficient budgets.
The impact of Raac extends beyond schools, affecting at least 24 hospitals, seven court buildings, and four government buildings. Harrow Crown Court had to close completely last month due to this issue.
This debacle not only exposes the crumbling state of public infrastructure but also reflects the short-term thinking prevalent in government policies. Austerity measures implemented by Conservative chancellors over the past 15 years have led to severe underfunding of public services like hospitals, schools, and care facilities. Capital funding for school building maintenance and replacement has dramatically decreased since 2010. An investigation by The Guardian in 2019 revealed that one in six schools required urgent repairs, and more than a third of schools have exceeded their estimated design lifespan. Diverting limited budgets towards addressing the Raac problem will only delay the resolution of other longstanding issues. The extent of Raac’s impact on public buildings remains uncertain, with some experts suggesting it may be more widespread than current estimates indicate.
This situation also highlights the government’s propensity for short-term decision-making. Political leaders have been aware of the Raac issue for quite some time but chose to ignore it until recently. The Grenfell fire tragedy could have been prevented, but it took the loss of 72 lives to provoke any action. Even now, the UK still has buildings constructed with highly flammable materials.
Given this track record, it should come as no surprise that ministers failed to act decisively despite the near miss incident. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan’s advice of “if you don’t hear, don’t worry” does little to reassure concerned parents about the safety of their children’s schools.
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