| answer text |
<p>Nothing is more important than the safety of pupils and teachers. This is why the
Department has been significantly investing in transforming schools across the country.
Where there are serious safety issues with a building, the Department takes immediate
and swift action to ensure the safety of pupils and school staff. There are no open
areas within schools or college buildings where the Department knows of an imminent
risk to life.</p><p>The Department has allocated over £15 billion since 2015 for keeping
school buildings safe and in good working order, including £1.8 billion committed
for 2023/24. In addition, the School Rebuilding Programme will transform buildings
at 500 schools, prioritising poor condition and potential safety issues.</p><p>It
is the responsibility of those who run schools – academy trusts, Local Authorities,
and voluntary aided school bodies – who work with their schools day to day to manage
the safety and maintenance of their buildings. The Department provides support on
a case by case basis if it is alerted to a serious safety issue which responsible
bodies cannot manage independently.</p><p>Since March 2022, the Department has been
working with responsible bodies, schools, and colleges to identify the presence of
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their buildings. Where RAAC is suspected,
the Department’s professional surveyors carry out assessments to verify its presence,
and if confirmed, the Department provides rapid support to schools on the advice of
structural engineers. This could include funding capital works to remove any immediate
risk and, where necessary, the provision of temporary buildings. Longer term remediation
of RAAC is supported by capital funding provided to the sector, the Department’s rebuilding
programme, and urgent capital support.</p><p><strong><br> </strong></p>
|
|
