Education secretary sets 2029 RAAC removal or replacement deadline

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has set a deadline for the removal or replacement of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, known as RAAC, in English schools and colleges, saying all sites not scheduled for full rebuilding should be free of the material by the end of this parliament in 2029. She also pledged that all rebuilding projects for RAAC-affected schools included in the government’s School Rebuilding Programme will have entered delivery by the same deadline.

The Department for Education confirmed 237 schools and colleges were identified with RAAC. Of those, 108 have received government grants to pay for removal work and 123 have been added to the School Rebuilding Programme for major refurbishment or replacement. RAAC has been permanently removed from 62 schools and colleges so far, and 41 schools have completed full rebuilds through the programme. A further six institutions have alternative plans, such as removing the affected building from their estate in the long term.

Officials said some removal projects remain incomplete, with nearly 50 school buildings still awaiting finishing works after initial interventions. The department has said work to remove RAAC...