The Department for Education has awarded nearly £35 million in contracts to three companies to provide temporary buildings to schools, amid an ongoing crisis over the safety of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
The three contracts, each worth £11,550,000, were awarded on 12 September to Portakabin Ltd, Wernick Buildings Ltd, and Algeco UK Ltd and run until 11 January next year.
It has been announced as the sector grapples with concerns over whether RAAC is in place in school buildings.
The contract is for the “provision of temporary accommodation and associated services to mitigate schools disruption due to rebuilding, condition and refurbishment programmes”.
Schools impacted by the RAAC crisis were told in DfE guidance that they could use temporary accommodation if vacating affected areas limited space in the school.
The DfE told Tes that not all the buildings being provided under the contracts have to be RAAC-related.
On 31 August, 156 schools were originally confirmed to have RAAC, with 104 having to vacate spaces containing RAAC.
The crisis was triggered when the government changed its guidance over the safety of RAAC just days before the start of the new academic year.
Schools were told they could source temporary accommodation directly but the DfE also said it could help with procurement.
Some schools have faced delays in the delivery of standard temporary classrooms ordered by the DfE, which the DfE has said it was not aware of.
Algeco said on its website on 5 September that it had “definitely” seen an increase in enquiries about temporary classrooms in the days after the RAAC news broke, particularly from the South East of England.
RAAC crisis
The DfE has promised to cover capital and “reasonable” revenue costs associated with RAAC.
The number of schools with confirmed RAAC has since increased to 214. The DfE has issued guidance for schools installing temporary buildings to cope with RAAC.
Under Class CB of the Town and Country Planning Order 2015, schools can install temporary buildings without planning permission but they must be removed when RAAC-affected buildings have been remediated or replaced, or by 24 October 2026 - whichever comes first.
When contacted for a comment on the new contract, a DfE spokesperson said: “The government will spend whatever it takes to ensure children are safe in school.
“We are working to permanently remove RAAC from schools and colleges. We will be providing capital grants or, where needed, rebuilding projects, including through the School Rebuilding Programme.”
