Schools in England with collapse-risk concrete should be exempt from Ofsted inspections until they are “fully operational”, a headteachers’ union has said.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has called on the Education Secretary to provide more support to the hundreds of schools with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) on site.
In a letter to Gillian Keegan, ASCL general secretary Geoff Barton said managing Raac is still creating “major issues” for schools – including lack of access to specialist equipment and limited or no catering facilities.
A total of 231 schools and colleges in England were confirmed as having Raac on their premises as of November 27 last year, according to the list published by the Department for Education (DfE).
Ofsted said it would avoid inspecting any school or college that was on the DfE’s list of education settings affected by Raac during the autumn term.
This term, a school or college that has confirmed Raac on site will be eligible for an inspection, but Ofsted said an affected setting can ask for an inspection to be deferred.
The open letter from Mr Barton to Ms Keegan said: “We ask that you instruct Ofsted to continue to avoid scheduling for inspection any school on the published Raac list until the school is fully operational, unless the headteacher has notified Ofsted that they are happy to undergo an inspection.”
The union is also calling for students to be given special consideration for coursework and non-exam assessment (NEA) in schools and colleges where specialist spaces – like art studios, science labs and technology workshops – had to be closed because of Raac.
