Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has set out a deadline for the removal of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) from all schools and colleges in England.
There are 237 schools and colleges in England that have rotting RAAC that needs to be removed. Of these, 123 are being rebuilt through the school rebuilding programme and 108 are getting government grants for RAAC removal. Six schools and colleges have alternative arrangements, including buildings not being part of their estate in the longer term.
Of the 108 that are removing RAAC and not being rebuilt, 62 have already had the necessary works completed.
Phillipson has today promised that work on the remaining 46 RAAC removal schemes will be completed before the next general election.
Of the 123 schools that are being completely rebuilt through, more than half are now under way and all will be in delivery by the time of the next general election, Phillipson said. However, it is outside of her power to decide when the next general election will be held. By law, it must be called by August 2029, but the prime minister can choose to hold it at any point before this.
Therefore, despite the definite progress that is being made, promising that anything will be completed by a deadline that does not yet exist is as rash as housing secretary Steve Reed standing by Labour’s manifesto commitment for 1.5 million new homes before the next general election.
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