Commenting on the announcement by the Government that 119 schools affected by RAAC will be rebuilt and 110 more will receive grants to fund its removal, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said:

“Schools affected by RAAC will no doubt welcome the news that they are to either be rebuilt or receive grants to remove the dangerous concrete. But it should never have come to this where so many schools have been left crumbling due to the Government’s refusal to invest what is needed to keep our schools safe.

“There remain serious questions to be answered about how quickly these schools will get the building work they require.

“There are many more schools that are in a serious state of disrepair and riddled with asbestos, but Ministers have come forward with no plans to fix them.

“Pupils and staff cannot continue to have their educations and futures put on hold because of Government neglect and incompetence.”