EDUCATION

RAAC 

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete

Avendale continues to offer its support and priority repairs to the education sector. In view of the latest Government guidance, we have allocated a dedicated management team to assist our new and existing education customers with any concerns, advice or requirements in the management or removal of RAAC.

• We are offering priority initial identification surveys and condition reports.

• Our RAAC team can be contacted directly on 0207 971 1488 select option 1

The safety of students is paramount. Our quality management systems ensure a complete safe solution for the removal and replacement of RAAC.

The Governments latest guidance to minimise the impact of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in education settings have been published, Thursday 31 August 2023

This week, the department has contacted all 104 further settings where RAAC is currently confirmed to be present without mitigations in place, to ask them to vacate spaces or buildings that contain RAAC.

Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, said:

Nothing is more important than making sure children and staff are safe in schools and colleges, which is why we are acting on new evidence about RAAC now, ahead of the start of term.

We must take a cautious approach because that is the right thing to do for both pupils and staff.

The plan we have set out will minimise the impact on pupil learning and provide schools with the right funding and support they need to put mitigations in place to deal with RAAC.

While some short-term disruption is inevitable as a result of this change, all available measures are being taken to minimise disruption to learning. The Department for Education is providing further support including:

•  Providing funding for essential immediate works needed to remove any immediate risk and, where necessary, to support the provision of temporary buildings for schools and colleges affected. The Department will work closely with responsible bodies to manage RAAC in the long-term, supported by capital funding provided to the sectors each year, and through the school rebuilding programme.

• Assigning a dedicated caseworker to each school/college affected, who will work with them to assess their particular needs and implement individually designed mitigation plans. This could include using other spaces on the school or college site, using spaces in nearby schools or elsewhere in the local area, or putting in place safety measures in the affected area. If needed, the caseworker will be onsite to support the school.

• Issuing further guidance to schools and colleges on identifying and managing RAAC. This will set out how the Department will provide support and funding to schools and other settings so that face-to-face education continues safely.

• Project delivery, property, and technical experts will be on hand to support schools to put face-to-face education measures in place.

Since 2015, £15 billion has been invested to keep schools safe and operational, whilst buildings at 500 schools will be transformed over the next decade through the School Rebuilding Programme. Settings in the poorest condition and those with evidence of potential safety issues are being prioritised, including some now known to contain RAAC.

Settings that are concerned about the presence of RAAC should continue to inform the department through its ongoing questionnaire. Parents will be contacted by their school if pupils are moving to a temporary location while remediation works are being carried out.

Building education for the future

Education sector properties demand specific attention when it comes to design and durability: educational spaces need to be safe, inspiring, maintenance free and able to withstand high volumes of people traffic.

Avendale works for educational authorities, facilities' management companies and academy trusts as a single point of contact. Our principal contractor service ensures that any maintenance cycle works, refurbishments and new remedial projects take place on time, with minimal disruption. We have worked on educational facilities including:

We meet the standard required to work in educational facilities including those containing vulnerable people. We apply contractor DBS checks, safe project management systems and on time results. As principal contractors, Avendale’s internal policies, working procedures and safety systems are continually monitored and externally audited and certified to a number of standards. We are certified accordingly: