Troubling new figures released by the UK government reveal that the number of schools in England impacted by crumbling concrete has risen to 174. These alarming statistics mark a significant increase from the 147 affected schools reported as of August 30th, with an additional 27 schools identified as of September 14th.

The issue revolves around reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, commonly known as Raac, which has been under scrutiny by education officials. Surveyors have been conducting extensive checks on schools across England to assess the presence of Raac, a lightweight material predominantly used in flat roofing, floors, and walls from the 1950s to the 1990s. Unlike standard concrete, Raac is a more affordable alternative but has a limited lifespan of about 30 years.

The government has pledged to update the list of affected schools every two weeks

Despite the growing number of cases involving Raac, there is a silver lining. More students from affected schools have been able to return to full-time, face-to-face education since the initial list was released. Several schools were forced to delay the start of their September term after the Department for Education (DfE) ordered them to close areas where Raac was found. However, many of these schools have now implemented safety measures to facilitate the return of students.

As of the latest data, only one educational setting still relies on full remote learning, a significant improvement from the four settings two weeks prior. Twenty-three other settings are offering a mix of face-to-face and remote arrangements, a slight increase from the 20 reported at the end of August. Importantly, there are no schools that remain fully closed following the summer holidays, in contrast to the initial figures that indicated 19 schools were either closed or delaying their term start due to Raac concerns.