More than 100 schools with collapse-risk concrete to have blocks rebuilt

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. While dealing with Raac is crucial, we really need to see more ambitious investment from the Government in bringing the schools estate up to scratch overall Paul Whiteman, NAHT In a letter to Ms Keegan, Mr Barton said managing Raac was still creating “major issues” for schools – including lack of access to specialist equipment and limited or no catering facilities. Following the DfE’s announcement on Thursday, Mr Barton said: “We welcome this much-needed clarity on the nature of the work to remove Raac from the schools and colleges affected. “We continue to urge the Government to provide better support for schools while they wait for Raac to be removed, including through the introduction of a new recovery funding stream to enable catch-up provision for pupils whose learning has been impacted.” After many months of inaction and delay, with children learning in draughty Portakabins and bused to neighbouring schools, it appears the Government may finally have woken up to the need to deal with this crisis Shadow schools minister Catherine McKinnell Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union the NAHT, said: “This announcement doesn’t contain any new money from the Treasury, but it does set out how those schools currently identified as being affected by Raac will receive the costs they require for the building work needed to fix it. That can’t happen without more money from the Treasury.” Catherine McKinnell, shadow schools minister, said: “After many months of inaction and delay, with children learning in draughty Portakabins and bused to neighbouring schools, it appears the Government may finally have woken up to the need to deal with this crisis.