Start of term delayed for thousands in England - is your school affected?
A list of some of the school's affected in England
Thousands of students across England are facing having to turn their living rooms in classrooms once again, with more than 100 schools in England told to fully or partially close because they're fitted with a concrete which could suddenly collapse.
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) is a lightweight building material used from the 1950s up to the mid-1990s, but is now assessed to be at risk of collapse.
On Thursday, the Department for Education said it had contacted 104 more schools after 52 of the 156 educational settings containing the concrete took protective steps so far this year.
What is the Government saying today?
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said she chose to take a “very cautious approach” and close schools just days before the new term after instances over the summer where crumbling concrete had “failed” in settings previously classified as non-critical.
She added that moost of the schools affected by aerated concrete will remain open while the issue is being fixed, saying “usually there’s a portion of a building” that is affected.
“The vast majority of children will be going back today. There will be some where they’ve got quite extensive Raac (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) so they may close so that we can put temporary accommodation in place.
“Many schools are either looking for alternative accommodation, if they’re within a multi-academy trust or within a local authority, or moving to another classroom if they’ve got spare classroom.
“If it’s across the whole school, then that gets more difficult. So what we’re doing right now is we’ve assigned a caseworker for each one of the schools, for working with the school to figure out what the mitigation plans are.”
What's Labour saying?
Labour is calling for the Government to publish a full list of the school's affected.
Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire says Labour plans to force a vote to compel its publication this week: “Today parents, children, staff up and down the country, will be wondering whether it’s their school building that’s at risk, whether their school building is safe for children to learn in,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Asked whether a Labour government would spend money to rebuild schools, Ms Debbonaire said: “We have no idea how much this is going to cost, so we’d start by publishing the list and the Government should do that today. That will allow us to try and estimate how much it’s going to cost.
“But the second thing, I find it unbelievable that the Government, having waited so long to come clean with parents today, will not do everything possible to fix the problem.
“If they’re really serious about government and for a plan for this country, for our children, they will be doing everything they can to get this problem sorted now, not leave it for another government.”
Is my school affected?
The Government has not yet published a list of the schools that are affected, but here's a list of what's being reported so far:
Hadleigh High School, Suffolk, East of England
On Friday, the Ipswich school told parents it was affected and “will need to consider delaying reopening or partial closure until the issue has been resolved”.
Farlingaye High School, Woodbridge, Suffolk, East of England
Some classrooms are out of use and it might need to delay reopening.
Claydon High School, Suffolk, East of England
The school in Ipswich is considering delaying reopening or partial closure until the on-site Raac issue has been resolved.
Honywood School, Colchester, Essex, East of England
Some 22 classrooms have been closed with immediate effect, with Year groups doing a mixture of remote and on-site learning.
Jerounds Primary School, Harlow, Essex, East of England
The school will stay open despite Raac being found in the school’s kitchen as it is being strengthened with a steel structure, BBC News reported.
Katherines Primary Academy, Harlow, Essex, East of England
Has reportedly closed its main building.
Clacton County High School, Essex, East of England
On Monday, the school will be closed for all students. It will only be open for Year 7 pupils on Tuesday, with all other children having online lessons. From Wednesday to Friday, the school will be open for Year 7 and Year 11 only, with other cohorts learning online.
Kingsdown School in Southend, Essex, East of England
Louise Robinson, headteacher of Kingsdown School, has said that the school will be closed next week due to the aerated concrete.
East Tilbury Primary School, Thurrock, Essex, East of England
Some parts of the school will be closed, with Year 1 pupils moved to share a block with Reception and Year 2 pupils relocated to the sports hall.
Buckhurst Hill Community Primary School, Essex, East of England
The school is closed until Monday September 11 while alternative teaching arrangements are organised.
Thameside Primary school, Essex, East of England
Expects its reopening to be delayed until September 11. Parts of the school have been closed, with a significant number of teaching spaces impacted.
East Bergholt High School, Colchester, Essex, East of England
The school is deciding whether to delay reopening or partially close.
Thurstable school and sixth form, Essex, East of England
No students in school on Wednesday, with online learning from home in place. Year 7 is expected to be in school on Thursday, with Year 7, 11, 12 and 13 on-site on Friday, with remote learning for other years.
The Billericay School, Essex, East of England
A number of classrooms will be unavailable while remedial works take place, temporarily reducing the school’s on-site teaching capacity, it has said.
The Appleton School, Essex, East of England
BBC News has reported that the school’s Tower, North and South blocks are being vacated, while Years 8, 9 and 10 are set for online learning from home from Wednesday to Friday.
Woodville Primary School, Chelmsford, Essex, East of England
The school is closed until September 11, BBC News reported.
Arthur Bugler Primary School, Thurrock, Essex, East of England
BBC News reports that the building for years 4, 5 and 6 will be shut at the start and the new school term could delayed for these year groups.
Buckhurst Hill Community Primary School, Essex, East of England
The start of term has been delayed until September 11 for all pupils so alternative teaching arrangements can be organised.
The Coopers’ Company and Coburn School, Essex, East of England
No students will be on site on Monday or Tuesday, BBC News reported.
The Gilberd School, Colchester, Essex, East of England
Plans to reopen on September 11 for Years 8 – 11 and on Tuesday September 12 for Year 7. The school hopes temporary classrooms will be added while work is carried out on its roof.
St Andrew’s Junior School, Hatfield Peverel, Essex, East of England
Will be closed until mid-September at the earliest and temporary classrooms are needed, BBC News reported.
Hockley Primary School, Essex, East of England
Has been closed since June 11 and some year groups are being sent to other schools.
Ramsey Academy, Halstead, Essex, East of England
BBC News has reported that four classrooms are not being used until safety measures are in place.
Ravens Academy, Clacton-On-Sea, Essex, East of England
Expected to be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Roding Valley High School, Loughton, Essex, East of England
Canteen staff are only able to cater to pupils receiving free school meals, with other students urged to bring a packed lunch, BBC News has reported. Some year groups are set to learn from home on Thursday and Friday, it added.
Mayflower Primary School, Leicester, East Midlands
Mayflower Primary School is one of three schools in Leicester that have been told they have buildings affected by Raac that need to be taken out of use, Leicester City Council has said.
The school found out it was impacted before the summer holidays, the council said.
Parks Primary School, Leicester, East Midlands
A “large proportion” of Parks Primary School in Leicester was forced to close in June after a survey revealed Raac was used in its construction.
Headteacher Caroline Evans told Channel 4 News: “In June, we were told we had Raac across the whole of our school and it was in a critical condition, which meant that we had to close a large proportion of our school, leaving only open the reception class and two Year 1 classes and two Year 2 classes.”
Ms Evans was photographed with other staff members in a temporary staff room erected in a school corridor on Friday.
Willowbrook Mead Primary Academy, Leicester, East Midlands
Another affected school, the Willowbrook Mead Primary Academy on the outskirts of Leicester, has said it will be closed on Monday.
Northampton International Academy, Northampton, East Midlands.
According to BBC News, the use of the top floor, including 18 classrooms, has been restricted, while the six-form area and a staff room are closed while survey work is done.
Aston Manor Academy, Birmingham, West Midlands
The academy has announced a delayed start to the academic year, with students now not expected on the school site until at least September 11.
Aylesford School, Warwick, West Midlands
The primary school is not impacted but a significant area of the rest of the school will be closed while works continue. Only Year 7s will be taught onsite on Monday, with Year 12s returning from Wednesday.
Wood Green Academy, Wednesbury, West Midlands
Some classrooms will be closed until October.
Donnington Wood Infants School, Telford, Shropshire, West Midlands
Telford and Wrekin Council has said additional safety measures, including extra temporary ceilings, have been installed at the school after Raac was found. It is set to remain open.
Myton School, Warwick, Warwickshire, West Midlands
Has delayed the start of term after telling parents that many students cannot return until September 11, BBC News reported.
Outwoods Primary School, Atherstone, North Warwickshire, West Midlands
Warwickshire County Council has said it is the only school on its patch affected by Raac but it will remain open after precautionary measures were already introduced.
Pershore High School, Worcestershire, West Midlands
A temporary building housing a drama teaching space and costume store may be of Raac construction and has been taken out of use before a specialist survey takes place.
St Bede’s Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College, Peterlee, County Durham, North East England
On Friday, the school’s headteacher Frances Cessford said that part of the building are out of use while safety measures are put in place.
St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Harlow Green, Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England
Announced that the school would be temporarily closed on September 2.
St Benet’s Catholic Primary School, Ouston, Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England
Announced that the school would be temporarily closed on September 2.
St Leonards Catholic School, Durham, North East England
The school announced it would be temporarily closed on September 2.
Headteacher Chris Hammill said the “number one” priority was getting children back to school and that he was working with the Department for Education to put together a plan.
He said they were looking at options to teach pupils in school buildings on site which were not affected by the Raac.
An email sent to parents and which has been seen by the PA news agency said they were also in conversation with Durham University about using some of their space and Durham County Council about using the old County Hall building.
Ferryhill School, County Durham, North East England
The secondary school has written to parents to tell them the start of the school year will be delayed, with most pupils to be educated remotely from September 11, ITV News has reported.
The start of the new school year will be delayed. New starters would start a week late with the rest being taught online, it said.
St James Catholic Primary School, Hebburn, South Tyneside, North East England
On Saturday, headteacher Francesca Heslop told parents “the school building is out of use while we put safety measures in place” and that it would “unfortunately” also need to be closed on Tuesday.
St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Darlington, North East England
Darlington Borough Council said St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School will not open until September 11 amid safety fears.
Carmel College, Darlington, North East England
Carmel College has also told parents that the kitchen and library at the college will be temporarily vacated until further investigations have taken place, Darlington Borough Council has said.
It said the college will remain open but there will be some disruption to classrooms and only a limited break and lunch menu, with pupils from Year 7-11 asked to take a packed lunch for the first week.
Abbey Lane Primary School, Sheffield, Yorkshire and Humber
Work started in July to replace a roof over the school kitchen after it was identified as containing Raac, Labour MP for Sheffield Heeley Louise Haigh said.
The school is due to reopen on Tuesday and a temporary kitchen has been installed.
Eldwick Primary School, Bingley, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Humber
Bradford Council has said that access to areas of the school where Raac is present is prohibited.
Crossflatts Primary School in Bingley, near Bradford, Yorkshire and the Humber
Parts of the school where Raac was found are closed and the plan is to provide temporary classrooms on-site, Bradford Council has said.
Scalby School, Scarborough, Yorkshire and the Humber
Is not reopening until September 11 and there is expected to be a mix of face-to-face and online home learning. Significant parts of the school are affected and have been taken out of use.
Cleeve Park School, Sidcup, London
BBC News has reported that four classrooms, some admin offices and the gym will be closed.
St Thomas More Catholic Comprehensive, Eltham, London
Set to open as planned from Tuesday but the hall, gym, canteen, drama studio and boys’ and girls’ toilets are affected by Raac.
The school plans to open mobile toilet blocks and is hiring a marquee as a space for the students to eat and prepare food.
Corpus Christi Catholic School in Brixton, London
Junior school pupils are being relocated to a temporary location after Raac was found in a roof, a statement from August 18 said.
The Ellen Wilkinson School, London
The science block, old gym, the hall and canteen are being vacated and students may need to bring packed lunched for a short period, according to the i newspaper and BBC News. The school remains open.
Cockermouth School, Cumbria, North West England
Will open on Tuesday instead of Monday after Raac concrete was found in four corridors, the library and the sports hall.
St Bernard’s School, Bolton, Greater Manchester, North West England
Scaffolding will be put in place to support several areas of the school with Raac, causing “disruption” until the work is completed. The school will open on September 7, but only if safety work is completed in time – otherwise it could reopen on September 11.
Our Lady’s Catholic High School, Preston, Lancashire, North West England
Is reportedly closed on Monday and Tuesday, according to local media and BBC News.
Cranbourne College in Basingstoke, Hampshire, South East England
Temporary works have already been undertaken to one section of the building to make sure it is safe and another area has been out of use since the beginning of the year, Hampshire County Council said. The school is expected to open as normal at the start of term.
St Francis Catholic Primary School in Ascot, Berkshire, South East England
Key stage two pupils will be starting the new term being taught in marquees after unsafe concrete was found in its school hall and kitchen, ITV reported.
St Clere’s School, Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, South East England
The high school announced it would be closing most of the main building, affecting a “significant number” of classrooms, according to an update on its website.
The closures will remain in place until “appropriate mitigation measures are established and approved by independent surveyors”, the school said.
Greenway Junior School, Horsham, West Sussex, South East England
The school will reportedly closed for all pupils on Tuesday.