Parents are taking their children out of schools with dangerous concrete and sending them elsewhere, a head teachers’ union says.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said an "unacceptable" wait for mitigation works meant parents were starting to “lose confidence” and “vote with their feet”.
It called on the government to announce new money for the removal of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) from schools and colleges in England and to help pupils who have faced disruption to catch up.
The Department for Education (DfE) said Education Secretary Gillian Keegan had “already confirmed we are funding the removal of Raac from our schools and colleges – either through grants or through the school rebuilding programme”.
But the ASCL wants the government to commit to putting new money into efforts to eradicate Raac, rather than using existing funding set aside for buildings.
Raac is just one issue affecting schools in England. About 700,000 children are being taught in unsafe or ageing buildings, according to a National Audit Office report last year.
Ahead of the spring Budget, in March, the ASCL has asked the chancellor to increase funding for schools, teacher pay rises, Covid catch-up and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
It also wants new money for schools with Raac, many of which had to close and teach remotely this year, after being told their buildings were unsafe days before the start of the autumn term.
The ASCL has called for "financial protection" for schools seeing their numbers drop because of Raac.
