Education Minister Josh MacAlister last week gave Myton School in Warwick a real showcase. He praised the school’s precise shotgun approach to handling the 2023 reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) crisis. On his school visit, MacAlister complimented the head teacher on an impressive practice. He praised her for effectively steering through what he termed a “massively tumultuous time.”
Russell-Moyle said the Raac had only been found in 237 of the 22,000 schools and colleges across England. This finding prompted unprecedented government intervention. That’s why the government is taking this issue so seriously. As such, they have now committed to removing Raac from all schools by 2029. Myton School will have Raac removed before the next general election. Or, they’ll be deep into a new building program by that time. The 257-student K-12 school is currently engaged in the design and planning stages for a replacement building to replace its aging, temporary facilities.
The government is indeed working at pace on this,” said MacAlister, making it clear that time is a crucial factor in the roll out. As a result, he explained the billions of pounds of supplementary investment are being distributed. This additional funding is a vital step in alleviating the Raac issue in impacted schools.
Unfortunately, Myton School isn’t the only one dealing with Raac. Aylesford School in Warwickshire and other local schools have experienced the same kind of disruption. Now, local campaigns are popping up. They’re calling for urgent support to students and parents impacted by the Raac crisis. The Conservative opposition leader of Warwick district council, Andrew Day, criticized MacAlister. He hit back by accusing him of “grandstanding” over plans to close Myton School.
“The disruption children have had is the consequence of the government previously not investing in basic capital for the country,” MacAlister commented, highlighting the broader implications of the crisis.
Phillipson, a member of the Labour party, echoed this sentiment, stating, “it’s about more than just buildings – it’s about showing children that their education matters, their futures matter, and this government is determined to give them the best possible start in life.”
