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No schools in Harrogate affected by RAAC concrete crisis

Tuesday, 5 September 2023 18:00

North Yorkshire Council says no schools in Harrogate are affected by the RAAC concrete crisis that is currently engulfing the education sector.

No schools in Harrogate affected by RAAC concrete crisis North Yorkshire Council says no schools in Harrogate are affected by the RAAC concrete crisis that is currently engulfing the education sector. Children go back to classrooms this week after the summer holidays but more than 100 schools across England have been fully or partially closed due to fears about safety. RAAC, which stands for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, is a lightweight material that was used to build schools from the 1950s until the mid-1990s. However, it is less durable than traditional concrete and has a life expectancy of just 30 years before it runs the risk of collapse. The government has known about the problem with RAAC since 1994 but said since 2015 it has invested £15 billion to keep schools safe and operational since. North Yorkshire Council confirmed that the only school in North Yorkshire that was constructed with RAAC is Scalby School in Scarborough. The council’s director of children and young people’s service, Stuart Carlton, said:

“Our priority is the safety of our children and all staff working in schools. We are aware of one school in the county which has been constructed using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). Scalby School in Scarborough has been asked to close the buildings affected. “The school is required to make suitable arrangements to continue the education of their 1,000 pupils until safety work can be carried out. “We will continue to monitor the situation and work closely with Coast and Vale Learning Trust, which oversees Scalby School, and the Department for Education. “We would like to reassure parents or guardians that any school affected by RAAC will contact them directly. "Scalby School is the only one in North Yorkshire on the current Department for Education list of 104 schools affected.”

By Thomas Barrett, Local Democracy Reporter Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.

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