More than 100 schools have been told not to re-open, or close, by the department of education. This is due to Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) being used in construction between the 1950's and 1990's. It has been discovered that RAAC may suddenly collapse.
The roof of a primary school collapsed in Kent in 2018, due to RAAC.
Some school will now not open in time for the new acedmic year, and some students will be forced to return to online learning. Other schools will be moved to alternative sites.
The Northern Echo website is currently listing schools in the north east that are affected.
Some of the schools affected are:
Ferryhill School, Ferryhill
Ferryhill School in County Durham confirmed in a letter to parents that two of its buildings are affected by the dangerous RAAC.
The school will be closed to all students for another week until Monday, September 11 when it will welcome new Year 7 starters. Other students will be forced to return to pandemic-style online lessons.
St Leonard’s Catholic School, Durham
St Leonard’s was contacted by the Department for Education on Thursday confirming it had RAAC in its buildings. Part of the school will have to close.
Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy branded the situation “shambolic” as she said the school had been left without time to arrange alternative sites to ensure learning was not disrupted.
Other school affected include St Theresa Primary School Darlington, St James Primary Catholic School in Hebburn, Carmel College Darlington, Byon Sixth Form Peterlee, St John Bosco Catholic Primary School Sunderland.