Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been found in schools in half of Scotland’s local authorities, a Scottish government update shows.
Structural inspections have been carried out across the country to see where the potentially dangerous concrete has been used in buildings, with the latest government update showing that 16 of Scotland’s 32 councils have schools with RAAC. The same document includes links to further details from each of those 16 local authorities.
On Thursday, first minister Humza Yousaf told MSPs in the Scottish Parliament that the number of schools known to contain RAAC had increased to 40, with fire stations and NHS buildings also affected. Safety mitigations must be carried out as a priority, the government has said.
The latest Scottish government update and the links to more detailed information from the 16 councils show that the following schools are affected:
Aberdeen
Abbotswell Primary, Cornhill Primary, Hazlehead Academy, Northfield Academy, Quarryhill Primary, St Machar Academy, Westpark School.
“The parents/guardians in affected schools have been informed, and have also been reassured the buildings’ inspections have shown they remain safe for use,” Aberdeen City Council said. “We are currently reviewing the guidance in place and will be undertaking further inspection and testing works in the affected buildings over the next month. On completion of these works, we will provide an update and further assurance to individual school communities.”
Aberdeenshire
Mackie Academy, Westhill Academy.
Aberdeenshire Council said there is “no impact on current operational activities”.
Argyll and Bute
No details of affected schools provided by the local authority within the latest Scottish government update.
Dumfries and Galloway
Laurieknowe Primary, Carrutherstown Primary, Dumfries Academy, Gatehouse Primary.
Dumfries and Galloway Council said: “Any remedial work recommended by our consulting engineers will now be undertaken outwith school hours. There are no plans to close the schools while this work takes place.”
Dundee
St Fergus Primary, Ardler Primary.
“The RAAC at each school is described as being in good condition currently with no structural issues apparent,” Dundee City Council said. “Specialist inspectors are therefore satisfied that both schools can safely operate as normal.”
East Ayrshire
Three “small non-public buildings” affected, including “a plant room that is separate to Crosshouse Early Childhood Centre”.
East Lothian
Preston Lodge High, Ross High.
On Preston Lodge High, the East Lothian Council said that “it was decided last term that some parts of the school building would be closed as a precautionary measure, with temporary arrangements in place to maintain learning and teaching such as using alternative accommodation within the school’s catchment area for some lessons”.
And added: “Discussions have been taking place around a possible solution and the council will issue full details to staff, parents and pupils as soon as it is able to do so.”
On Ross High, the council said: “While it remains the case that the RAAC is in a better condition than buildings elsewhere, we have been advised that work will be required to improve the bearing of the RAAC panels. Therefore, as a temporary and precautionary measure, the dining hall is being taken out of immediate use and arrangements are being made for work to proceed.”
Edinburgh
Colinton Primary: “no impact on the school”, City of Edinburgh Council has advised.
Cramond Primary: one classroom block closed; temporary classroom units on site.
Currie Community High: access still available to dining hall, old gym block, assembly hall and an art classroom are closed; newer gym block still in use, some gym classes taking place outdoors; assemblies online.
Fox Covert/St Andrew’s RC Primary: gym hall/dining hall closed but likely to reopen after remedial works; kitchen closed for longer term.
Lorne Primary: top floor closed while assessment takes place; classes relocated within the school.
Pentland Primary: four classrooms, kitchen and supporting areas not in use; numbers restricted in dining hall; classrooms moved to the gym, music room and staffroom.
Trinity Academy swimming pool: “no impact as building has been closed since 2014”.
Trinity Primary: a classroom area and kitchen not in use; temporary classrooms on site.
Glasgow
Whitehill Secondary.
The presence of RAAC in the school “has been robustly mitigated, managed and monitored since its discovery in 2021”.
The council added: “The local school community is aware of this situation and there is no suggestion or assessment that the RAAC presents any danger to the structure of the building.”
Glasgow City Council also said that “a four-stage process is underway to investigate whether RAAC is present in other buildings”.
Highland
Charleston Academy, Nairn Academy.
Highland Council said: “Remedial works to areas that were categorised as High Risk (ie, were to be completed immediately and prior to being reoccupied) were either completed by the start of the new school session or the areas made secure so that they were not accessible.
“Remedial works to areas that were categorised as Medium Risk (ie, to be completed within the next year) are underway and will continue during term time and over the October holiday period.”
Inverclyde
No details of affected schools provided by the local authority within the latest Scottish government update.
Moray
No details of affected schools provided by the local authority within the latest Scottish government update.
North Ayrshire
Ardrossan Academy.
RAAC only present in the PE block, which is separate from the main building. North Ayrshire Council said that a “report from our structural engineers confirmed that there were no immediate safety concerns”.
North Lanarkshire
Ravenswood Primary.
“Remedial action has already been taken to ensure the [Cumbernauld school’s] safety,” the council said. Work has taken place in the school and a community building also affected, including “the installation of permanent steel supports and other measures as appropriate”.
North Lanarkshire Council added: “The structural engineers have advised us that there are no immediate safety concerns and regular surveys will continue in the meantime.”
Perth and Kinross
Perth Grammar.
“Immediate safety measures were put in place [after RAAC was identified in late February 2023] to ensure the safety of all building users and a programme of works were commissioned to safely remove all RAAC materials over the summer holiday period,” Perth and Kinross Council said. “All RAAC has now been removed from the building and replaced with a steel-profile roof. There are some remaining consequential works ongoing at the school with an anticipated completion date of end October 2023.”
West Lothian
Balbardie Primary, Knightsridge Primary, Riverside Primary, St Kentigern’s Academy, Windyknowe Primary School.
Schools affected to varying degrees. Riverside Primary closed in June 2023, with nursery children relocated to another school in July and primary pupils relocated to the vacant Beatlie School in August.
Knightsridge Primary was fully closed in November 2022, with a phased return of pupils starting with P1-3s last month.
“Temporary propping” was installed in Windyknowe Primary’s nursery toilets in December 2022, followed by “full closure of the first-floor school area in April 2023”, West Lothian Council said.
At St Kentigern’s Academy, there are around 4,300 square metres of RAAC roof panels. The dining and kitchen areas were closed in November 2022, followed by a full closure of all remaining RAAC areas in April 2023, including the departments of CDT (craft, design and technology), PE, music and drama. The school “has remained operational throughout”, with refurbishment of another school building completed in August 2023 to allow relocation of CDT workshops.
Education secretary Jenny Gilruth said on Friday that the Scottish government had been “actively engaging with local authority partners, who have statutory responsibility for school buildings in Scotland, for some time.”
She added: “Local authorities were asked to publish by [Friday] the data relating to impacted schools in their area, given the seriousness of this issue and to ensure this data is freely available.
“I hope this provides reassurance to parents, carers, staff and pupils who may be concerned about the presence of RAAC in their learning facilities.
“I also expect the local authorities still to publish to do so as a matter of urgency.”
Ten universities in Scotland have also closed or partly closed some buildings. An NHS Scotland review has identified 254 of its buildings that “have two or more characteristics which are consistent with the presence of RAAC”.
