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Essex County Council reveals the 54 schools with RAAC

PA Media Stock photo of a school classroomPA Media
Schools have been told to check their buildings for any RAAC concrete

Fifty-four schools have been identified and named by a local authority as having concrete prone to collapse.

Essex County Council manages 15 of the schools and they will mostly remain open, with the exception of one that will temporarily close.

Academy trusts are responsible for the remaining 39 schools.

Essex County Council said: "We are doing all we can to support schools to manage the situation and get affected children safely into schools."

Thurrock also has four schools impacted by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) concerns and Southend has one special school built using the material.

RAAC is a lightweight form of concrete that was used in the construction of public buildings decades ago and experts believe much of it has exceeded its lifespan.

Watch: How RAAC concrete can crumble under pressure

In a statement, the county council said: "We have been working over a number of years to understand the extent of RAAC across the maintained school education estate and take action when it has been identified.

"Unfortunately, one maintained school will need to close temporarily due to the severity of the RAAC across the school building."

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Essex County Council list of affected schools

  • Anglo European School, Ingatestone
  • The Appleton School, South Benfleet
  • Barnes Farm Junior School, Chelmsford
  • Baynards Primary School, Colchester
  • Beehive Lane Community Primary School, Chelmsford
  • Bentfield Primary School and Nursery, Stansted Mountfitchet
  • The Billericay School, Billericay
  • The Bromfords School, Wickford
  • Broomfield Primary School, Chelmsford
  • Buckhurst Hill Community Primary School, Buckhurst Hill
  • Cherry Tree Academy, Colchester
  • Chipping Ongar Primary School, Ongar
  • Clacton County High School, Clacton-on-Sea
  • Elmstead Primary School, Elmstead
  • Eversley Primary School, Basildon
  • The FitzWimarc School, Rayleigh
  • Great Leighs Primary School, Great Leighs
  • Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Great Tey
  • The Gilberd School, Colchester
  • Harlowbury Primary School, Harlow
  • Harwich and Dovercourt High School, Harwich
  • Hatfield Heath Primary School, Hatfield Heath
  • Henham and Ugley Primary and Nursery School, Henham
  • Hillhouse C of E Primary School, Waltham Abbey
  • Hockley Primary School, Hockley
  • Holy Trinity C of E Primary School, Eight Ash Green
  • Honywood School, Coggeshall
  • Jerounds Primary School, Harlow
  • Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport
  • Katherine Semar Junior School, Saffron Walden
  • Katherine Semar Infant School, Saffron Walden
  • Katherines Primary School, Harlow
  • Lambourne Primary School, Abridge
  • Lubbins Park Primary Academy, Canvey Island
  • Mersea Island School, Mersea Island
  • Mistley Norman Church of England (CoE) primary, Mistley
  • The Ramsey Academy, Clacton-on-Sea
  • Ravens Academy, Clacton-on-Sea
  • Roding Valley High School, Loughton
  • Springfield Primary School, Chelmsford
  • Stanway Fiveways Primary School, Colchester
  • St Andrew's Junior School, Hatfield Peverel
  • St Helena School, Colchester
  • St Lawrence Church of England Primary School, Rowhedge
  • Tendring Technology College, Frinton-on-Sea
  • The Thomas Lord Audley, Colchester
  • Thurstable School, Tiptree
  • Water Lane Primary School, Harlow
  • Wells Park School, Chigwell
  • White Court School, Great Notley
  • White Hall Academy, Clacton-on-Sea
  • Winter Gardens Academy, Canvey Island
  • Woodville Primary School, South Woodham Ferrers
  • Wyburns Primary School, Rayleigh

Definitive list as of 09:00 BST on 5 September. Schools in Thurrock and Southend not included.

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Essex County Council said it was also working closely with academy trusts and the Department for Education to understand the impact and provide support.

It added it was confident there were no additional maintained schools with RAAC.

"For pupils, parents, school staff and education colleagues at the council, this isn't the start to the autumn term you expected or will have wanted," the authority said.

"I can reassure you that across the council we are doing all we can to support schools to manage the situation and get affected children safely into schools and learning as quickly as possible."

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