The schools minister has confirmed that the UK government will cover “all capital costs” over any disruption to educational buildings caused by concerns from the use of concrete prone to the collapse of schools.
This comes as schools in England face closure due to crumbling concrete as pupils prepare to return to school.
While appearing on Sky News, Schools Minister Nick Gibb said that the government will pay for and cover all capital costs for schools that need to either fully or partially relocate.
“We will pay for that. We’ve made it very clear that we will cover all capital costs. So if, in the worst-case scenario, we need portacabins in the school estate for alternative accommodation, we will cover all those costs. So there has been some speculation that we won’t cover those costs. We absolutely will,” Gibb confirmed.
He added that the vast majority were contacted on Thursday, August 31, 2023, but there are a few more that will be called on Friday, September 1, 2023, and the parents are going to be informed about what is happening in the schools.
Gibb also said that the government will release a list of the schools to face closure in due course.
He added that more schools could be impacted by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), and this applies to the schools built in the period between the 1950s and 1990s.
So far, the issue is in 156 schools, though there may be more after questionnaires continue to be surveyed and more surveying work is done in the schools.
Based on a number of cases that surfaced over the summer, the UK government is taking a cautious stance and has urged parents to be confident that if their school has not contacted them, it is safe to send their children back.
