RAAC in Scottish schools?

[Rae36]

I haven't heard much about this in Scotland at all, apart from odd investigations here and there. Does anyone know if there is going to be a review of all Scottish schools that might fit the criteria?
Our school looks exactly like some of the ones shown on the news, built in the right time period.
The news from England of kids using remote learning gives me nightmares. As well as the thought of my kid on the top floor of a potentially unsafe building.

There are a number of schools in Edinburgh that have had buildings cordoned off due to its presence. Our school has it in communal areas so gym hall and kitchen/canteen. It’s a huge worry.

I dont get a sense though of whether they have reviewed buildings and the ones that are not known to be affected are safe? Or just haven't been investigated.

Were you notified that your school had it?

It's not like me to be a worrier but I feel like I've not got much resilience left in me for another round of uncertainty and potential disruption.

I agree, the pictures of the school buildings in England look just like the late 1960s primary school across the road where my kids went, and several other local ones. If it's an issue in English schools it is here too.

We received an email on 11th of August from the school. No idea when work to remedy is planned but it affects almost a 1/3 of the school!

The new S1s at this school are being taught in their primary schools.

Here.

What a mess. Sorry some of your kids are affected. I hope it all works out.

I guess I'm hoping someone will stand up and say "we have looked at all schools and schools x y and z are affected. All other schools are fine"

But I don't suppose that will happen. At least they're working away behind the scenes to make affected schools safer.

@Rae36 the news said 30 Scottish schools this evening but hasn't named them

It is worrying. I keep thinking about that poor girl who died when a wall fell on her in school. It’s scary to think that schools aren’t safe. Our secondary was only built in 2012 so hopefully fine. Looking at our old primary though I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a prime candidate

The school I work in found it in one of the door ways. So that has been cordoned off. The school kitchen at another school has it which provides 3 schools with lunches. So it's cold options just now. 2 schools affected massively have portakabins and one school isn't affected by the concrete but a hole in the playground, and children are bussed elsewhere just now.

But we were told before we returned if the school had it.

Some schools are in a dreadful state. Ours got a million pound refurbishment less than 10 years ago and if you saw it you'd be horrified. It's filthy, with parts of the ceiling hanging down (I think it's just layers of poorly applied thick paint hanging rather than anything more dangerous but still looks awful), it's full of asbestos and has a major rat problem with an awful odour at times. Nobody will do anything about it despite numerous complaints from staff. I wish more parents would complain as I feel they will be listened to more than us.
The only time any real action was ever taken was the day after that poor girl was killed in Edinburgh. We had a dangerous wall that had been frequently reported and ignored and finally they came out to reinforce it. Probably scared of being sued.

Sounds like your children go to the same school as mine. Or these issues are absolutely endemic across the country. It's so sad what our children's learning environment is like.

Our local primary has just celebrated its 50th birthday and it is definitely getting to the end of its life. Ever since my eldest started 15 years ago they have had issues with leaking (flat roof), rubbish heating, and there is almost certainly concrete used in its construction. It does sit on a big plot with a field to the back, so at some point they will likely build a new school on the field and demolish the old. The original Victorian primaries in Bearsden, Milngavie are structurally sound and just need some upgrading. The 60s and 70s primaries have lasted 100 years less.

The problem with the Victorian buildings is that they are expensive to heat and the soundproofing is often non existent. These are issues that are easily fixed but councils often prefer to sell off these beautiful buildings to then be converted into flats or have them fall into disrepair/accidentally burn down and need demolished. They then throw up hastily built flat roofed boxes that look shiny and new at first but give it a few years and the problems of cut corners show up.

Unlike in England where the DOE have agreed to fund repairs, the SNP are saying it is the responsibility of local councils whose funding is already cut to the bone.

I read an article the other day that listed the affected schools in Scotland

No quite. Carol Monaghan just said on TV that there is no new money available for this and it will have to come from the DoE's existing budget. This is no different to the Scottish government's stance.

I think individual council areas are doing their own assessments. I think it’s likely councils will publish reports of the schools in their areas.

Not quite, dept of education is a central government budget, the Scottish Government is saying funding has to come from local councils

I think we are are only part way through the investigations.

There was UK government guidance issued on the timetable to do this but like all things we had to have a Scottish version so are probably a couple of weeks behind.

I suspect there will be slight regional variations but I think this will be more about the architects and builders favouring this method at the time rather than because of the border. There are not that many firms in the public building sector. Areas that grew rapidly in the 70s are also perhaps more likely to have more of it.

I think in the hospital inspections NHS Grampian had the most which would fit with this.

It is a worry but equally, although there was one incident in a school a couple of years back (thankfully on a weekend) seeing how widespread this is suggests the risk is fairly low or there would have been lots and lots of incidents.

Despite the fact it has been there for up to 50 years, the minute it is discovered the area becomes hard hat only and needs to be closed off. This has nothing to do with the condition. It doesn't mean it's been found to be ready to go. Just that it exists in the structure so must be treated as a risk until full assessment says otherwise.

We had a letter from our local authority saying only one school was affected and parents of that school had been notified.

I find it hard to believe it's not more widespread than 35 schools - but hopefully that is indeed the case.

Though that is just schools, we know it is also in hospitals and universities. But I also wonder about housing? And of course, many properties of that age also have asbestos…

Received confirmation this morning that DD school is not affected.

Within the letter it states that the council have been aware of concerns about the use of RAAC and has conducted surveys and inspections of buildings in order to assess if the material is present. Where it has been present, parents and guardians have been informed and reassured that the buildings are safe for use.

Obviously cannot comment on all councils and local authorities but would say that's a fairly reasonable position?!

Yes because the capital expenditure budget in Scotland is controlled by local councils whereas in England it is controlled nationally.

I wish my children's school would do the same. Heard nothing from school or the LA. They just need to let people know if that they've done surveys and building is fine, or not. The silence from them is making me suspicious. As neighbouring authority has found it in quite a few school that are very similar to ours. Surely school staff must be worried too?