ASCL comment on PAC report on deteriorating school estate

Responding to the Public Accounts Committee report on the RAAC crisis and deteriorating school estate, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“The PAC’s concerns over the government’s handling of the RAAC crisis chime with what we are hearing. It appears to be taking an eternity to put in place remedial measures – such as temporary classrooms and support structures – let alone any plans to rebuild or refurbish buildings affected by RAAC. In the meantime, despite the best efforts of schools to minimise disruption, the situation continues to be extremely difficult

“We are gravely concerned that when the government eventually gets around to permanent solutions for affected schools it will do so at the expense of other schools that desperately need upgrading instead of taking the action that is patently necessary to substantially improve capital funding in general.

“It is the failure to invest in the school estate over the past 13 years which has left us with a situation in which many school buildings are falling apart and are still riddled with asbestos. Dealing with these issues has to be a priority in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on Wednesday.”