Kate writes a bi-weekly column for the Burton Mail. This column was originally featured in the 9th September print edition.
Schools returned this week from the summer break, and I want to wish all pupils and teachers across Burton and Uttoxeter the very best for the new academic year. I am looking forward to very shortly recommencing my visits to our schools to meet with local teachers and pupils.
Readers will know about concerns in the national media that have arisen around schools, colleges and nursery schools buildings which are made up of a material called Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). This was a material that was heavily used in construction in many buildings between the 1960s and 1990s.
I completely understand the concerns students, teachers and parents will have about this and the possible disruption it poses to pupils learning. In Burton and Uttoxeter, I am pleased to say that so far there have been no confirmed cases of RAAC in our schools. However, I am following the matter incredibly closely and monitoring any updates from the Department for Education (DfE), Staffordshire County Council and our local academy trusts.
On Monday, Parliament returned from the summer recess period and one of the first things I did on my return to Westminster was to attend the statement made in the House of Commons on this matter. The Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, gave an update to MPs on what the Government is doing to support educational settings with RAAC. The Secretary of State highlighted that each identified school is being assigned a caseworker from the DfE to assess the needs and implement individually designed mitigation plans to ensure minimal disruption to learning. The Government has been clear that capital costs associated with making these spaces safe will be funded by the DfE.
Whilst this is a very difficult decision, the Government has been proactive in addressing this issue and prioritising the safety of students. I am pleased that students across Burton and Uttoxeter will be returning to school this week and I will continue to follow the issue of RAAC closely.
