RAAC concrete discovered in Somerset - as MP calls for schools to get in touch
Ian Liddell-Grainger, the MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, is calling on schools to get in touch as engineers work out which buildings contain the crumbling concrete
Last updated 5th Sep 2023
A special school in Taunton say they are working with the Department for Education to find a solution - after RAAC was found at one of their sites.
The dangerous form of concrete has been discovered at the Oakhill campus of Selworthy School, a decision they say has been made very 'last minute'.
There will be a slow return to class this week, with the first students back tomorrow.
In a statement sent to Greatest Hits Radio, Ian Robinson, the CEO of the Oak Partnership Trist - which runs the school - said: "We are currently working with the DfE to find a solution to the RAAC issue at one of our sites.
"We have communicated with all of our stakeholders, including children and parents."
The news of their closure was also shared on the Somerset Council website.
Describing the reason behind their closure this week, they explained that 'some spaces' saw the presence of the crumbling concrete had been found - including one of the school's classrooms.
They added: "The check happened at Oakhill this morning which confirmed some spaces within the school where RAAC is present. We have been instructed that we cannot use these spaces until remedial action has been taken.
"The areas include one classroom space. As this closure has been made at the very last minute, we will need time to move furniture and set up suitable alternative learning spaces, ready for a calm and purposeful start to term.
"Therefore, we will remain closed to all children on Wednesday 6th September. We will remain closed to just to Basil class on Thursday 7th September."
RAAC is dangerous because the lightweight form of concrete is prone to excessive cracking and corrosion.
It was introduced to building methods back in the 1950s, and was used until the mid-1990s - with many experts now saying the material has reached the end of its shelf life.
That means it's liable to collapse, meaning those schools with the material in their roofs need to be condemned until they're safe again.
Away from Taunton, and Bridgwater and West Somerset's MP is calling for urgent checks at schools across his constituency.
Ian Liddell-Grainger claims two Academy Trusts, which run a number of schools in the region, need to reach out to him with an action plan, and the details of checks, following concerns they could be at risk of the potentially dangerous RAAC concrete.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, he said: "Certainly in the Bridgwater and West Somerset area, there are some potential problems with two academy trusts in our region.
"One of those is based in Weston, and the other is in Yeovil - and I need them to get in touch with me.
"They've got to get in touch - the problem we've got, is that as RAAC has not yet been confirmed, we need the surveyors to go in, we need the Trusts to make contingency plans, for we need for them to get back to myself and the Council.
"I've had a letter from the Secretary of State with a list of schools which may have been impacted in the past couple of days, and I know they have looked at those most likely to be impacted first.
"I'm fairly confident that, because of the age of the schools, we probably won't have that many schools impacted. But what the engineers have to do is check each building - and they have been working really hard.
"We know about the situation in Taunton - and that is deeply regrettable - but the main thing is that we don't want to interrupt the education of our children, as much as we can.
"We've had other issues with schools over the years, so we need to make sure they're safe in the short term, and solve the issues as soon as we can to secure them for the long-term."
A full list of schools which were built with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete is yet to be published in full by the Department for Education.
Last week, Somerset Council confirmed to us that institutions looked after by the local authority were not built with RAAC - however more than 100 schools across England have had to fully - or partially - close.
We have reached out to the two Academy Trusts mentioned by Ian Liddell-Grainger.
Peter Elliott, Trust Leader and Co-Founder at the Bridgwater and Taunton College Trust, said: "Both BCA and Brymore have been fully surveyed in the last 18 months and thankfully, there is no RAAC present on either campus."
You can visit the Selworthy School website for more information.