Patrick Hayes, Technical Director at the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), and Chris Goodier, Professor of Construction and Materials at Loughborough University, and a member of the Institution’s RAAC study group, recently gave evidence to the Education Select Committee’s one-off inquiry into
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) and management of the school estates.
Patrick began the session by responding to an overview request from the Committee Chair, Helen Hayes MP, about the risks associated with RAAC.
Patrick explained the history of this building material, the defects relating to its longevity such as cracking, deflection and reinforcements corrosion due to RAAC’s porous qualities. He reminded the panel of a sudden RAAC panel collapse in 2018 at a school in Kent.
As a result, IStructE set up its RAAC Study Group, publishing
two guides in 2022 and 2023 about RAAC assessment and remediation.
Professor Goodier also addressed RAAC’s history, noting its difference to traditional concrete on which there is extensive research, unlike RAAC. When the RAAC crisis broke in 2023, there was little public awareness of the material, but a lot has happened over the last two years with more known about it now given its presence in public and private sector buildings.
Patrick Hayes stated how important data is for managing RAAC and other building risks, noting the impact lack of data about RAAC’s presence in schools had in dealing with the crises in 2023.
Commenting on giving evidence, Patrick Hayes says: “This was a timely session given the government had issued just the day before a timeline for RAAC remediation in English schools.
“Since September 2023, RAAC has become very much more in the public consciousness, with it being present in many public and private sector buildings, especially those built in the 1960s and 1970s.
“Importantly, it was reiterated at this session that RAAC can be made safe – if it is well installed, well maintained and surveyed regularly.”
Professor Chris Goodier adds: “The DFE has a huge role in managing RAAC across the school estate – some 20,000 schools – which are not the same, each designed and built in different ways, with different materials, in locations with diverse weather impacting these buildings – and especially due to climate change. The scale of the challenge is massive – so data about the structure of the school is essential to manage risks, and not just data from visual assessments conducted as part of Condition Data Collection (CDC) inspections.”
Other points
- Addressing a query about schools’ safety and being fit for purpose, Patrick Hayes explained that an active management of the school estate is essential, saying this was not a binary issue of ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’. Professor Goodier stated that RAAC can be lived with, if well maintained.
- Aligned to this, Patrick spoke to a question about whether there’s confidence that structural risks in the school estate are now better managed. He mentioned the parallels with the Building Safety Act, which has a need for a digital database to record the form and condition of higher risk buildings – basic building information – so that a building’s assets are recorded for ongoing maintenance and risk management.
- Speaking about industry competencies and skills, Patrick said these were variable. Communication throughout the sector is vital, with technical and risk management skills essential. The point was also made regarding the relatively lower amount of repair, remediation and maintenance expertise and skills in the sector, compared with expertise and skills for new design and construction.
- Regarding the school rebuilding programme, Professor Chris Goodier said there were various external factors impacting delivery: the construction industry is generally made up of small businesses, with small margins and profits. Costs have accelerated, there is a skills gap, materials and energy prices have increased – so the capacity for the industry to deliver, with the necessary expertise and labour, is challenging.
- Patrick Hayes explained that rebuilding schools is complex, as projects are usually on existing sites. Delivery could typically involve a year of planning plus a year of logistics prior to construction. Rebuilding needs to be expertly project managed, with early procurement so that on-site works can be done quickly and safely.
- A final question was asked about the demolition of schools built by Caledonian Modular in 2024, and how much confidence there is in the DfE’s processes for assuring building contractors for rebuilding schools. Patrick stated that to address general quality issues, buildings should have independent checking and monitoring, as per the infrastructure sector. Managing the risks of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is also vital as many systems are currently outside the scope of design standards, so need technical assessment. Patrick called for the introduction of a technical assessment system for MMC building systems, to check its structural robustness, common industry standards, and a competency framework for installation. MMC systems are complex, so an independent peer review of this building system is justified.
Dedicated to structural and public safety, IStructE continues to play a proactive role in providing relevant and timely updates about RAAC, with guidance on its website and training for its members about this building material.
Other expert panellists on the 28 October 2025 were Bryony Green, Chief Operating Officer, Aldridge Education; Andy Walls, Educational Adviser, NAHT - The school leaders' union; Rob Thomas, Co-Chair, The Educational Building and Development Officers Group of local authorities.
- Ends -
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Notes to Editors
About the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE): https://www.istructe.org/
The Institution of Structural Engineers dates from 1908 and is now the world’s largest membership organisation dedicated to the art and science of structural engineering.
It has 30,000 members working in 139 countries around the world. Professional membership is one of the leading global benchmarks of competence and technical excellence. Members undergo rigorous technical assessment and commit to continual learning and development.
The Institution drives higher standards and shares knowledge because its members’ work is vital to public safety and meeting the challenges of the future. The Institution provides a voice for its members, promoting their contribution to society as innovative, creative problem solvers and the guardians of public safety.