DfE sets timeline for RAAC removal from all schools and colleges

All schools and colleges in England are to be free from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) under new timelines announced by education secretary Bridget Phillipson.

The Department for Education (DfE) said all RAAC would be permanently removed from schools and colleges before the next general election, except those already being rebuilt through the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP). More than half of the SRP projects are currently under way.

According to the department, 237 schools and colleges have been confirmed as containing RAAC. Of these, 123 are being rebuilt through the SRP, while 108 are receiving government grants for removal work. Six institutions are making alternative long-term arrangements, such as relocating from affected buildings.

The government said more than 42,000 pupils are already learning in RAAC-free classrooms, with 62 schools and colleges having had the material permanently removed.

The announcement follows confirmation that £38bn will be invested in education capital projects over the next five years – the highest level since 2010, according to the Department for Education.

Phillipson said: “We inherited a crumbling education estate, but I won’t let that be our legacy. After years of neglect we are giving every child a safe and high-quality classroom where they can focus on learning – by setting clear timelines for the permanent removal of RAAC from schools and colleges. It’s what parents expect, it’s what children deserve and it’s what we are delivering.

“It’s about more than just buildings – it’s about showing children that their education matters, their futures matter, and this government is determined to give them the best possible start in life.”