Rebuilding of North East schools affected by RAAC is 'not enough'
Calls still remain for further help and exam dispensation
We are hearing how rebuilding RAAC-affected schools in the North East and Teesside is only 'one step' towards solving the crisis.
We told you last week about the Government's pledge to help those sites, including St. Leonard's Catholic School in Durham.
Parents there are still calling for further help and exam dispensation as experts say pupils should have a 10 percent grade inflation.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan spoke to us about that on a visit to Stockton last week and said: "The thing about exams is this is the awarding bodies that I think are responsible for this decision but what they've said, is that they have put more leeway in place in terms of time frames for assessments, coursework and for some of those other things, so they have worked with affected schools.
"When it comes to exams, you can either make changes that at a national level like we did during Covid or you can make an individual one, like someone who's very, very ill or whatever. But changing because of particular circumstances is quite a difficult thing to do, because you could have somebody saying 'well, my school flooded so therefore I need to have exam dispensation.'
"What it's about is what the child knows and not what the child would have known if circumstances would have been different. I'm not an expert on exams but the people who are experts on exams have advised me, and I know Ofqual and the awarding bodies have got a lot of expertise in this area.
"We are helping children to catch up and 100 percent of children are in face-to-face education and a 100 percent of the surveys have been done and as the questionnaires. Massive thank you to all those teachers and headteachers who have worked with us to really do their best to recover the situation so that they can make sure all of our schools are free from RAAC."
Where are the schools in the North East and Teesside that have RAAC?
Here is a full list of schools in England where reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been identified, as of 8th February 2024.
The Government has pleged help so listed will be the type of school is specified (primary, secondary etc) as well as the action that is to be taken: a grant for removing the concrete; one or more blocks to be rebuilt or refurbished as part of the School Rebuilding Programme; or another course of action that does not require additional support or funding.
County Durham:
- Ferryhill School (secondary): School Rebuilding Programme
- St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College (secondary): grant
- St Benet's Catholic Primary School, Ouston (primary): School Rebuilding Programme
- St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham (secondary): School Rebuilding Programme
Darlington:
- Carmel College (secondary): grant
- St Teresa's Catholic Primary School (primary): grant
Gateshead:
- St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Harlow Green (primary): School Rebuilding Programme
- St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon (secondary): grant
Hartlepool:
- Golden Flatts Primary School (primary): School Rebuilding Programme
Newcastle upon Tyne:
- St John Vianney Catholic Primary School, West Denton (primary): School Rebuilding Programme
North Tyneside:
- St Columba's Catholic Primary School, Wallsend (primary): School Rebuilding Programme
South Tyneside:
- St James' Catholic Primary School, Hebburn (primary): School Rebuilding Programme
Sunderland:
- St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland (primary): School Rebuilding Programme