Gillian Keegan: how’s the ‘hot mic’ thing gone down with you?

[Crinklycut]

For my part, I don’t think it was very ministerial, and I do wonder how No. 10 all talk to each other these days (do they just swear all the time?) BUT she is a bit right, isn’t she?

The DfE have finally acted to make the public aware that their children are not safe in school. That’s more than anyone else in the Conservative party has done since they cancelled ‘Building Schools for the Future’ in 2010 and during their 13 years of government.

So how’s it gone down with you?

TBH if loop holes are closed, i really don't get the "behaviours" argument.. i mean those on PAYE do not get to use them... so why should the wealthy?

Apparently the DfE is now not confident that sending heads around schools with a hammer was an entirely reliable way of assessing schools for RAAC 🤦‍♀️

Already seen at least one report on MN of a school that said they had no RAAC now being closed due to RAAC.

https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/headteachers-lack-confidence-identify-raac

https://x.com/ShehabKhan/status/1702598544769606099?s=20

EXC: RAAC scandal continues – entire secondary school and sixth form in London forced to close immediately with 1800 students sent home with minimal warning
School informed the Department for Education (DfE) it had RAAC BEFORE term started – which means for two weeks students were in a school which the government has only now deemed to be unsafe

A spokesperson for the DofE says that they "a very small number of impacted schools have needed to turn to remote learning".

Since that number is thought to be over 100, and the government are rebuilding at best 50 schools a year, I presume they will in future say that they are rebuilding a very, very small number of schools.

If a school finds RAAC, the head has the power to close the school pending finding alternative accommodation. It was the school’s decision to let pupils in and clearly breaches their duty to pupils and H&S.

Given that a headteacher has no way of knowing whether or not their school has RAAC or any other number of building problems, I think what you are saying is that all Headteachers should shut all schools?

The school followed all guidance and was told by DfE the additional mitigation it had put in place meant the school could continue face-to-face lessons, but somehow they are to blame?

It says the school found RAAC! What are you on about @jgw1 ? Maybe they got a consultant in? The Head did know! The implication is the DofE didn’t close the school. They don’t need to. It’s down to head and governors because of their legal duties.

Are the DofE only responsible for pot plants in the same way that is the Prime Minister's only responsibility in Downing Street?

The DfE were extremely quick to override headteachers when it came to closing schools on health and safety grounds during covid. It's like they're the ones with the responsibility.

@noblegiraffe Schools have responsibility for H&S. You do know this! It’s pretty clear it’s delegated. Schools need to act to ensure Dc are safe and they legally can close a school whilst they organise alternative accommodation. As plenty have. This is just a silly story whipping up sentiment without robust journalistic investigation. Idiots believe anything though. If it’s in a newspaper it must be true!

@TizerorFizz you may find it instructive to read this.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/12/14/government-starts-legal-proceedings-against-council-school-closures/

So you're saying that this "Stepney All Saints School, in east London, followed all guidance and was told by DfE the additional mitigation it had put in place meant the school could continue face-to-face lessons" isn't true?

Does anyone know why we have a Department for Education if Headteachers are responsible for everything?