'Grave concerns' over RAAC crisis at Oxfordshire schools

Larkmead School in Abingdon will make pupils in Year 8, 9, and 10 learn from home this week as it awaits the results of a survey into whether reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, known as RAAC, is present in the school building.

Almost 150 schools in England have been confirmed to contain RAAC, which has a significantly shorter durability than other concrete, and the government has come under fire in recent days over the crisis.

One parent of a Year 8 boy at Larkmead School, who will be forced to stay at home on Thursday and Friday, said she had “grave concerns” about the issue.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “It’s added a huge amount of pressure on me.

“I’m due to start back at work so on Monday morning I’ll be out of the home at 8am and I won’t get back until 6pm.

“Normally the kids would just have a few hours of being at home, but this is a long time.

“I maybe have to work around my hours to work more at home but there will be lots of parents who won’t be in that position and who will be leaving their children at home.

“I have grave concerns about these kids being at home for an undetermined amount of time.

“My son is really disappointed. He was ready to go back to school to see his friends, and they’ve had a long time off.

"He’s also quite worried about being on his own all day. He’s only Year 8, he’s still 12. That’s quite young to be left on your own.”

In an email to parents seen by the Oxford Mail, Larkmead School said affected pupils would return to school on a rota basis from Monday.

The school's headteacher Jonathan Dennett said: "Larkmead submitted a RAAC survey to the DfE last academic year, and while we await that feedback we have taken the precautionary measure of closing some parts of the school.

"We appreciate that this situation will be a concern for our families. Larkmead’s school site is in good condition with no issues having emerged prior to the recent national concerns about the instability of RAAC and its use in school buildings. 

"We have acted promptly to minimise any disruption, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of students as they return to school.

All students will be provided with some form of learning. Year 7, 11 and Sixth Form will attend school every day. Years 8, 9 and 10 will be taught via a rota of face to face and on-line learning.

"Students deemed vulnerable will be able to attend full time and we will support those in receipt of Free School Meals.

"Whilst we await further clarification and guidance from the DfE we will continue to communicate with parents to update them on the measures we are putting in place, including the installation of temporary accommodation if needed."

Wallingford School has told parents that RAAC panels were used in the construction of the Blackstone block – ‘B block’ – and said it would re-room the six classrooms affected for the start of term.

It said this was “manageable” and that there was no risk of the school closing to any students.

Hardwick Primary School in Banbury is not able to provide cooked meals because an area of the school – which a spokesman would not confirm – has not been confirmed as being free of RAAC.

A GLF Schools spokesperson said: "Hardwick Primary School has an area that cannot yet be confirmed as being free of RAAC. Further survey work has been arranged to confirm the exact extent of any RAAC and the required remedial works necessary.

"The school opened as planned this week to all children but this area of the school remains closed. This has impacted the school caterers and the school is not currently able to provide cooked meals. 

"We will continue to provide updates to parents as more information is known."

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We are incredibly grateful to school and college leaders for their work with us at pace to make sure that where children are affected, disruption is kept to a minimum, and in the even rarer cases where remote learning is required, it is for a matter of days not weeks.”