Government officials have escalated the risk level of school buildings collapsing to “very likely”, after a rise in reported “serious structural issues” and failing to get extra capital cash from the Treasury.
School blocks collapsing is one of the six “key risks” currently facing the Department for Education, according to its annual report published today.
It states: “There is a risk of collapse of one or more blocks in some schools which are at or approaching the end of their designed life-expectancy and structural integrity is impaired.
“The risk predominantly exists in those buildings built in the years 1945 to 1970 which used ‘system build’ light frame techniques.”
The risk level has been raised from “critical – likely” to “critical – very likely”.
