US Trends

what schools are closing because of concrete

More than 100 schools and colleges in England – and over 150 education settings across the UK – have had to fully or partially close buildings because of concerns over a type of “crumbling” concrete called RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete).

What’s going on?

RAAC is a lightweight concrete widely used in UK public buildings (including schools) from about the 1950s into the 1990s, especially for flat roofs and some floors. Over time, it can weaken and, in some cases, fail suddenly, which is why some schools have been told to close affected areas at short notice.

In late 2023, the Department for Education (DfE) in England instructed more than 100 schools and colleges to close or restrict access to spaces that contain RAAC until safety measures are in place, with many pupils moved to temporary classrooms or remote learning. The total number of schools with identified RAAC was reported as 156 in one UK-wide count, though not all required full closure because only certain blocks or rooms were affected.

Examples of affected schools

Different schools are affected in different ways: some have just a few classrooms out of use, while others temporarily shut whole sites. A few named examples from published reports include:

  • Cherry Tree Academy, Essex – closed for a period while engineers reviewed RAAC in the building.
  • The Coopers’ Company and Coborn School, Essex – closed to students on specific days while safety work was organised.
  • Cleeve Park School, Sidcup – closed several classrooms, the gym and some offices due to RAAC.
  • Claydon High School, Suffolk – considered delaying reopening because of RAAC checks.

In North Tyneside, a separate issue with “substandard” 1960s concrete led to closures or serious disruption at several schools, including Fordley Primary School and other local primaries using similar construction methods.

Snapshot: named schools in news reports

[1] [1] [1] [1] [7] [9][7]
School Location Status described
Cherry Tree Academy Essex Closed until engineering review completed due to RAAC concerns.
The Coopers’ Company and Coborn School Essex Closed to students on specific days while safety arrangements were made.
Cleeve Park School Sidcup, England Closed 4 classrooms, the gym and some admin offices because of RAAC.
Claydon High School Suffolk Considering delayed reopening while RAAC risks assessed.
Fordley Primary School Annitsford, North Tyneside Ceiling failure linked to substandard concrete; modular classrooms ordered, significant disruption.
Hazlewood / Hazle Community Primary North Tyneside Parts of the school closed for months over weak concrete; pupils using temporary facilities.
These are just illustrative examples; various news outlets and parent sites maintain longer lists that are updated as inspections continue.

How big is the problem now?

  • In England, more than 100 schools and colleges were initially told to close or restrict areas because of RAAC, with the official list updated as surveys progress.
  • A UK-wide snapshot mentioned 156 schools containing RAAC, with 104 needing urgent action and others already mitigated.
  • Most schools did not close entirely: many kept face‑to‑face teaching by shutting only affected rooms and propping ceilings with steel supports or moving classes to other blocks.

Because the situation is evolving, the exact list of affected schools can change as new surveys identify RAAC or confirm that buildings are safe.

Where to check the latest list for your area

To find out if a specific school is affected right now:

  1. Check the school’s own website and recent letters to parents; many schools publish RAAC updates and risk‑assessment outcomes.
  1. Look at your local council or education authority’s “schools” or “RAAC” update page; councils have been posting lists of affected settings and contingency plans.
  1. Search for recent national lists compiled by UK news or parent sites (for example, national newspapers or parenting portals) – they often summarise the DfE’s latest list and any newly added schools.

If you tell me the town/region or the specific school you are interested in, I can help you interpret the latest publicly available information about whether that school is affected and how (full closure vs. partial closure vs. just extra supports).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.