Education Secretary Promises No Return to School Lockdowns Amid Concrete Crisis

An Important Decision Made with Safety in Mind

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan reassures families that the recent closure of classrooms due to concrete safety concerns does not signal a return to school lockdowns.

Evidence-Based Action

Keegan emphasizes the importance of responsible government decision-making, stating that the closure of classrooms was based on evidence that certain school buildings' concrete infrastructure was no longer safe.

Not a Repeat of Pandemic School Closures

While the closure of classrooms has caused concern among parents, Keegan emphasizes that this is not a reflection of pandemic school closures or extended home learning. Mitigation measures have been put in place for the majority of schools affected.

Proactive Safety Measures

The Department for Education has been proactive in identifying schools with potentially unsafe concrete infrastructure. Warning notices and detailed information requests were sent to councils and academy trusts in 2018 and 2022. Engineering surveys have been conducted to confirm the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).

Working Towards Safety

So far, 156 cases of confirmed RAAC have been identified out of over 22,000 schools and colleges. The Department for Education is surveying schools quickly to ensure accurate information on the presence of RAAC. Contingency plans are being implemented for affected schools, with support and funding provided to maintain face-to-face education.

Transparency and Fairness

While there have been calls to name the impacted schools, Keegan emphasizes the importance of informing parents and allowing schools time to respond before making any public announcements. The Education Secretary will provide further updates on progress next week.

Acting in the Best Interest of Children's Safety

Keegan acknowledges the disruption caused by the closure of classrooms close to the start of the new term but emphasizes that prioritizing children's safety is of utmost importance.