Rebuilding and expansion work has begun at a school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), nearly three years after substandard concrete was discovered in the building.
Selworthy School, located in Taunton, Somerset, serves children with SEND.
According to BBC, as reported by "Tehsil365", the Oak Partnership Trust, which manages the school, discovered in August 2022 that the Oakhill campus contained widespread use of "Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete" (RAAC), a material later deemed “unsafe.”
The school’s SEND specialist, Louise Andrews, stated that the reconstruction aims to ease pressure on the council’s budget due to the increasing number of children requiring additional support.
As part of the project, existing classrooms will be renovated and an additional 24 pupil places will be created.
Andrews added: “While the council is responsible for ensuring sufficient SEND provision, it did not have the legal authority to open new schools. The rise in demand and shortage of places has affected the council’s ‘local school first’ policy, resulting in some children having to travel long distances to attend specialist schools that meet their needs.”
Somerset Council has allocated £1.7 million for the project.
The new school is expected to open in September 2026.
RAAC is a lightweight construction material primarily used between the 1950s and 1990s, especially in flat roofs, but also in floors and walls. It is cheaper, quicker to produce, and easier to install than standard concrete.
Concerns over RAAC have already led to the full or partial closure of more than 100 schools across England.
Experts warn that many public buildings containing RAAC are currently at risk of collapse.