Over 100 schools nationwide may close or partially close at the start of the upcoming academic year due to the discovery of unsafe concrete in their buildings.

The Department for Education (DfE) mentioned that a few state facilities may need complete relocation, potentially forcing some students into remote learning, similar to the pandemic.

RAAC, a lightweight building material used from the 1950s to the mid-1990s, is now deemed at risk of collapsing. The Department for Education (DfE) has been evaluating the RAAC issue since late 2018, but the decision to issue guidance just days before the start of the term has caused frustration among unions.

The government has chosen not to disclose the list of 104 schools that have been instructed to close their buildings.

However, the BBC has reported that affected schools include Ferryhill School in County Durham, Willowbrook Mead Primary Academy in Leicester, and Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School in Brixton, South London. Other schools suspected of containing RAAC will undergo assessments in the coming weeks.

If RAAC is confirmed, the Department for Education (DfE) has pledged to take appropriate swift action, which may involve funding to address immediate risks and, if necessary, arranging for temporary buildings to be installed.

Official guidance was given to schools, school nurseries, and colleges, informing them that they would be responsible for funding their own emergency accommodation.

The Department for Education (DfE) communicated with an additional 104 schools after assessing new cases following protective measures taken by 52 out of the 156 educational facilities with concrete concerns earlier this year.

In Bradford, it was disclosed on Thursday that Crossflatts Primary School and Eldwick Primary School in West Yorkshire had identified RAAC.

The Bradford Council is overseeing both temporary and long-term modifications to ensure that children can continue to attend these sites safely.