School concrete crisis: Ascot school reopens with marquees

No alternative site was available to host the classes, according to head teacher Rhona Miccoli

A school will start the academic year using marquees as classrooms after unsafe concrete was found in one of its buildings.

St Francis Catholic Primary School in Ascot, Berkshire is one of more than 150 schools to identify the use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

More robust temporary classrooms are expected to be ready by 6 October.

Headteacher Rhona Miccoli said: "We are prepared for all scenarios."

"A thorough Health and Safety Risk Assessment has been carried out by school and our Health and Safety Advisor from RBWM," she added.

The concrete, found in the roof of a main building in July, has meant all Key Stage Two classrooms, the school hall, and most of the kitchen area cannot be used.

The government said it has been aware of RAAC in public sector buildings since 1994

Parent, Sarah, who has two children at the school, said her daughter was among the students set to be taught in the marquees.

She said the school first alerted parents to the problem in July.

"It was quite bizarre at first. Everybody was doing their own research because nobody had heard about this kind of concrete," she said.

She added the school had kept parents across plans for the start of term.

"You can't fault the school, they are trying their very best and the last thing they want to do is keep the children off school," Sarah said.

The four marquees have been set up as teaching areas alongside eight portable toilets.

The school said staff had "moved heaven and earth" to get the school open for September

Councillor Amy Tisi, education cabinet member for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council, said she understood it was a "worrying time" for schools, parents and pupils.

She said: "At this stage, we are not aware of any [RAAC] in any state schools in the Royal Borough, with the one exception of St Francis Catholic Primary School in Ascot."

The government said it has been aware of RAAC in public sector buildings since 1994.

In 2018 it published guidance about the need for adequate contingencies to be in place in case buildings needed to be vacated at short notice.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: "Nothing is more important than making sure children and staff are safe in schools and colleges, which is why we are acting on new evidence about RAAC now, ahead of the start of term."