The government has committed to a clear deadline for the removal and remediation of RAAC from schools. Announcing this pledge last week, the Department for Education wants to ensure “every child … is learning in classrooms free from RAAC” by this time, emphasising the need for safe, high-quality buildings.

The target is to have all schools affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (or at least all those receiving removal grants) free of the material by 2029, or by the end of the current Parliament.

In spite of this grave situation, the affected sites continue to operate full-time, face-to-face education whilst remedial plans progress.

Reasons for the delay in repairing the schools are many and varied. Critics blame both consistent underinvestment and delayed improvements to outdated designs for creating this foundation for failure. The discovery of RAAC and the subsequent ‘crisis’ underscored the broader maintenance backlog and provided wider context of an ageing school estate and significant need for investment in capital works.

Progress has already been made with RAAC removal, with a number of schools and colleges already having had RAAC permanently removed. Schools in the separate School Rebuilding Programme are subject to the same timeframe to begin delivery.

Protecting your school against RAAC

If you are in a position where you either know that your school or Trust has RAAC or that you think it does, follow our tips before diving into the unknown:

Survey, audit and identifying RAAC

Make sure your school/estate is fully surveyed to detect where RAAC might be present, and classify the level of risk, mapping them clearly, so decision-makers know which parts of the building should be prioritised.

RAAC is known to deteriorate with moisture and age, so do not forget to monitor degradation.

For utmost safety, appoint a RICS-accredited surveying firm to provide condition surveys and maintenance plans that will flag RAAC as well as other building defects.

Plan and prepare for remediation ahead of 2029

Remember that the 2029 deadline is a deadline for the whole country. You will need a realistic capital works programme that prioritises your most critical points of failure, such as roof beams.

Funding experts such as Eddisons will be able to help you secure grants or capital money. We suggest coordinating with stakeholders to ensure that disruption is minimised and planning is structured.

Manage expectations and mitigate risks

Before full removal is possible, you need to consider aspects of accessibility such as limit loads, weight or vibration risks over suspected RAAC, restrictions under beams, reinforced supports, and propping and shoring. In some cases, parts of buildings have had to be temporarily closed or vacated until remedial works are complete.

These specialist and technically complex problems are best dealt with by experienced, qualified practitioners such as our building & projects consultancy team. Contract administration and project management experts can ensure that not only these construction methods are considered but that protocols are adhered to and communication between staff, students and contractors flows smoothly.

Budgeting and funding strategy

The scale of remediation is expensive. Plan your budget carefully and account for contingencies including cost escalations.

We suggest engaging early with your chosen consultants to ensure you achieve the correct amount of central funding or grants.

Our experts constantly monitor funding timelines and ensure you don’t miss application windows or fall behind in approvals.

Stakeholder communication and transparency

Communicate with all your parties to ensure everyone knows the risks, the plan, and timelines in order to minimise panic or misunderstanding. Similarly, early coordination with teaching/operations is key when the possibility of temporary classrooms and teaching upheaval shows itself.

Having a professional onsite means that documentation such as audit trails and evidence of risk assessments, decisions, approvals, works are always maintained and on hand, often as a precautionary measure but in some cases helpful when litigation occurs.