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More than half of dilapidated English schools were refused rebuilding money (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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More than half of English schools that are so dilapidated they are at risk of partial closure were refused money under the government’s school rebuilding scheme, Department for Education (DfE) statistics show.

It has also emerged that under the programme, intended to rebuild 500 schools in England over a 10-year period from 2020, just four were completed in 2021.

This is an additional issue on top of the RAAC problem.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:

The schools rebuilding programme is separate to the current turmoil over schools forced to close classrooms or buildings because of increased concerns about crumbling reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), although some of the work will be to replace Raac-constructed blocks.

Under the most recent full data published by the DfE, of 1,105 schools that applied to be rebuilt, 300 had been selected and 797 refused, with eight dropping out.

Rishi Sunak and the DfE have come under pressure about the rate of school rebuilds following the chaos over Raac, where a spate of sudden failures in the lightweight concrete intended to be used for only 30 years meant some students were forced to begin the term from home or in temporary classrooms and cabins.

The decision to rebuild at a rate of 50 a year was made when Sunak was chancellor, and came despite a DfE submission for funding to the Treasury asking for between 300 and 400 a year to be approved due to “a critical risk to life” from Raac and other issues.

Sunak’s official spokesperson said it was incorrect to say just four schools were rebuilt in 2021, and that when various schemes were considered, 72 were completed that year.

Asked if the pace was too slow given the students starting this year with remote learning or temporary classrooms, the spokesperson said: “It’s important to understand the context of 22,500 schools where for the vast, vast majority, certainly well above 95%, that won’t be the case.

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