The RAAC Crisis in Schools – What Estate Managers Need to Know in 2026

If you’re responsible for managing a school estate, the chances are RAAC has been keeping you up at night. And with good reason. But here’s the reassuring news: there is a clear path forward, and you don’t have to navigate it alone.

What Is RAAC and Why Is It Such a Problem?

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is a lightweight form of concrete widely used in UK public sector buildings from the 1950s through to the mid-1990s. It was cheap, quick to install, and seemed like a practical solution at the time.

The problem? It has an approximate 30-year lifespan. After that, the risk of structural failure increases significantly, particularly when moisture has penetrated the material. Many school buildings containing RAAC are now well beyond that threshold.

According to the National Audit Office, around 38% of school buildings – approximately 24,000 – have exceeded their original design life, including 10,000 built before 1940.

Where Things Stand Right Now

The RAAC crisis first hit the headlines in 2023, but it’s far from resolved. As of February 2026, a cross-party Parliamentary Education Committee has described the situation as symptomatic of a “chronic capital investment deficit”,  not just an isolated safety risk.

Here’s the current picture:

• 234 education settings were confirmed to have been built with RAAC
• As of September 2025, 60% of affected schools were either fully free of RAAC or on the path to removal
• 62 schools have had all RAAC permanently removed
• 71 schools are being rebuilt under the School Rebuilding Programme
• The DfE has spent £211 million on RAAC mitigation and remediation to date
• The government has allocated £2.4 billion in 2025/26 to improve the condition of the school and college estate

While progress is being made, MPs are clear: significant risks remain across the wider estate, and further work is urgently needed.

What the Government Is Asking of Estate Managers

The Education Committee is calling for mandatory three-to-five-year surveys and risk assessment cycles for higher-risk building types. The DfE has also committed to launching a live digital platform in 2026 to provide up-to-date data on estate condition and remediation progress.

The message is clear: estate managers need to be proactive, not reactive.

Practical Steps for Estate Managers

If you’re managing a school estate, here’s what you should be doing now:

1. Audit your buildings – Know which structures were built between the 1950s and mid-1990s and prioritise surveys for those.
2. Engage your responsible body – Whether that’s your local authority or academy trust, ensure surveys have been returned to the DfE.
3. Understand your funding options – Capital grants, the School Rebuilding Programme, and the new Education Estates Strategy all offer routes to funding remediation work.
4. Plan for disruption – If RAAC is confirmed, work with a contractor experienced in managing construction in live school environments, with safeguarding and minimal disruption at the forefront.
5. Think long-term – The DfE’s new 10-year Education Estates Strategy calls for a “whole-estate, long-term investment” approach. Now is the time to start planning beyond the immediate crisis.

How FPM Can Help

At FPM, we understand that working in a live school environment is completely different from a standard construction project. Safeguarding, minimal disruption to pupils and staff, fixed budgets, and clear communication with governors and parents, these aren’t optional extras, they’re the baseline.

With over 50 years of combined experience and a proven track record in the education sector, we specialise in summer build programmes that tackle major structural work during school holidays, keeping disruption to an absolute minimum. We also offer fixed-price, transparent contracts so you always know exactly where you stand.

Whether you’re dealing with confirmed RAAC, planning a wider refurbishment, or simply want a trusted partner to assess your estate’s condition, we’re here to help.

Let’s Talk

Don’t wait for the problem to get worse. Get in touch with the FPM team today and let’s talk through your estate’s needs.

Email us at hello@thefpmgroup.co.uk – we’re here to help.