Asbestos fears that harmful mineral could be in almost 1,000 British schools

There’s “extreme concern” not enough is known about the risk posed to pupils in school buildings – including the potential presence of asbestos in almost 1,000 schools.

The Public Accounts Committee has found 700,000 pupils are learning in schools that need major rebuilding or refurbishment.

Dame Meg Hillier, Labour MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, is the chair of the committee.

She said: “A significant proportion of children in this country are learning in dilapidated or unsafe buildings.

“This is clearly beyond unacceptable.”

She added: “The images of classroom ceilings collapsed onto empty school desks released in recent months are not just searing indictments of a deteriorating school estate.

“They are chilling reminders of absolute catastrophe averted through sheer luck.

“Given the poor condition of so many of these buildings, the Government’s prime challenge now is to keep the safety of children and staff absolutely paramount.”.

The report said it is “extremely concerned” that the Department for Education does not have a good enough understanding of the risks in school buildings.

The Commons committee said the Government had been unable to say how many surveys to identify RAAC – the concrete at risk of crumbling – were outstanding.

The committee also said it didn’t know how many temporary classrooms had been provided to affected schools.

In addition MPs on the committee demanded that officials get a full picture of the problem of asbestos in schools in the UK as they don’t have responses to an asbestos management survey it launched in 2018 from four percent of schools – which is almost 1,000.

According to data from the Health and Safety Executive around 11 teachers or ex-teachers have died from asbestos-related conditions each year since 2011.

The condition of schools was at the centre of a national crisis earlier this year due to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete – otherwise known as RAAC.

Schools across the country had to shut their doors to children who were set to return after their summer holidays.

Joshua Weston, founder and director of Fourth Wall Building Consultancy, explained to Express.co.uk why it’s considered so dangerous.

Joshua said: “RAAC is considered a deleterious material in the context of many buildings because it has a 30-year life span and is used in many structurally critical building elements.

“Many of the panels are now approaching or past the period that would be considered within their serviceable life.

“It’s also susceptible to the impact of elevated moisture exposure, which can impact its structural integrity and reduce its lifespan.

“A significant risk factor is around the general repair and maintenance of a building.

“There have been reported cases of parts of buildings collapsing, notably at least two schools in 2017 and 2018.”