Update on RAAC in a small number of academies in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire County Council can confirm that none of the schools it runs is affected by the current RAAC (Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) issue that has been prominent in the national news. The council had been making regular condition checks in recent years.

Only one Oxfordshire secondary school is a local authority maintained school and around half of primary schools in the county are now academies. These schools are therefore run independently of the council and managed by the Regional Schools Director/Department for Education.

The county council has been kept informed by a small number of academies in the county who do have RAAC issues but who have each come up with arrangements to ensure that children continue to be educated. Parents were fully informed of the individual situations at these schools by academy trusts earlier this week. The county council will help each school where it can.

The schools are:

• John Mason School in Abingdon updated parents that some RAAC had been found in the school - this affected the school from the week beginning 11 September.
• Wallingford School remains open to all children despite some areas of the buildings being affected by RAAC, again the council is trying to assist with temporary classrooms.
• Hardwick School in Banbury is able to remain open to all children despite a small part of the school potentially being affected by RAAC with survey work being undertaken.