EIGHT EDINBURGH SCHOOLS AFFECTED
Inspections carried out by local authorities have shown that, at present, there are 16 council areas which have identified schools as containing Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).
Local authorities have responsibility to ensure schools are safe for pupils, staff and all their users, and are carrying out inspections of school buildings to identify the presence of RAAC. Ministers have been clear to local authorities that those must be carried out as a matter of the highest priority and have offered assistance to councils in the matter where appropriate.
Where RAAC has been identified, Councils have assured the Scottish Government that mitigations are in place in accordance with guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers.
The schools currently impacted are in the following council areas:
- Aberdeen City
- Aberdeenshire
- Argyll and Bute
- City of Edinburgh
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Dundee City
- East Ayrshire
- East Lothian
- Glasgow City
- Highland
- Inverclyde
- Moray
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Perth and Kinross
- West Lothian
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “The Scottish Government has been actively engaging with local authority partners, who have statutory responsibility for school buildings in Scotland, for some time.
“It is important that there is transparency around the schools where RAAC has been identified and mitigations in place. Local authorities were asked to publish by today the data relating to impacted schools in their area given the seriousness of this issue and to ensure this data is freely available.
“I hope this provides reassurance to parents, carers, staff and pupils who may be concerned about the presence of RAAC in their learning facilities. I also expect the local authorities still to publish to do so as a matter of urgency.
“Currently half of Scotland’s local authorities have identified RAAC in schools. COSLA has confirmed that safety is their central consideration and that there is robust guidance that is followed by every local authority to ensure that those buildings are safe to be in for pupils, staff and the public.
“This is in line with the existing guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers who have advised us they do not believe there is sufficient grounds to update their advice.”
EDINBURGH REPORT:
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) is a lightweight construction material that was used in the construction of some public buildings between the 1950s and 1990s. It was mostly used mostly in flat roofing. Despite its name, it is very different to traditional concrete. It is aerated, or ‘bubbly’, and is therefore less durable than traditional concrete.
RAAC can be susceptible to failure when exposed to moisture. As a result UK Government has issued guidance to organisations across the UK to carry out check buildings where RAAC may have been used.
Since April 2023, we have been inspecting our schools to check for RAAC. The work is being carried out in line with UK Government advice. We have contracted independent structural engineers to do the surveys.
No schools have had to close as a result of RAAC.
These are the schools affected and the mitigations that are in place (as at 8 September 2023):
- Colinton Primary School – no impact on the school
- Cramond Primary School – one classroom block is closed, temporary classroom units on site
- Currie Community High School – access still available to dining hall, old gym block, assembly hall and an art classroom are closed. Newer gym block still in use, some gym classes taking place outdoors
- Fox Covert/St Andrew’s RC Primary School – gym hall/dining hall closed but likely to re-open after remedial works; kitchen closed for longer term
- Lorne Primary School – top floor currently closed while assessment takes place; classes relocated within the school.
- Pentland Primary School – four classrooms, kitchen and supporting areas not in use; numbers restricted in dining hall
- Trinity Academy – swimming pool, no impact as building has been closed since 2014
- Trinity Primary School – a classroom area and kitchen not in use; temporary classrooms on site.