ALL five schools in Wales affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) have reopened to pupils

Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi, Holyhead, is the last school to welcome back all school years. The school building opened on Wednesday, January 10 to youngsters for the first time since before the summer holidays last year.

"Significant" remedial works in teaching blocks A and C, the cafeteria, and other key areas has been completed.

Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said: "I'm glad that the Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi pupils have now all been able to return to school.

"It has been a difficult time for everyone. The impact on the children's education is the biggest concern, of course, and I have called on the Welsh Government many times to ensure that the impact of this on pupils is taken into account in any assessments.

"I am grateful to the staff under the leadership of headteacher Adam Williams for doing everything to maintain the teaching in difficult circumstances, and to Anglesey County Council for ensuring that the work was able to be completed quickly.

"The truth is that this has underlined the need to ensure that our children are taught in suitable, modern circumstances. Looking at the standard of some of the new school buildings that have been opened in Anglesey in recent years reminds us of the importance of investing in the education estate as part of the effort to raise standards."

Headteacher Mr Williams said, “It’s fantastic to be able to welcome all school years and children back to our school. Despite space being severely restricted in recent months, we have been extremely fortunate that the commitment and positive attitude of both our brilliant staff and students has ensured that teaching has been always provided; be that in the school, at other buildings in the town or via online learning.”

Wales' Education Minister, Jeremy Miles, said today (January 16) that in comparison to other countries in the UK that have carried out detailed surveys of their school estate, Wales has a lot fewer instances of RAAC in schools.

Only five schools in Wales have identified as containing RAAC, compared to 231 in England and 39 in Scotland. 

These include Ysgol David Hughes in Menai Bridge; Ysgol Maes Owen in Kinmel Bay, Ysgol Trefnant near Denbigh. There was Eveswell Primary in Newport.

Mr Miles said: "Over the past nine years, we have introduced an extensive programme for the refurbishment and building of new schools and colleges, upgrading and replacing those which are most in need of replacement for safety and quality reasons.

"The fact that so few cases of RAAC have been identified in our schools, only five in Wales in comparison to over 270 elsewhere in the UK, is testament to this Welsh Government's investment in our learning centres.”

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The Welsh Government has increased the level of capital funding available through the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme to £850m for the period 2022/23 to 2024/25 representing an increase of 25 per cent when compared to the 2021/22 baseline. To date more than £2.35 billion has been targeted towards new-build and major refurbishment projects.

Of the 1,463 state-maintained schools in Wales, more than 170 schools benefitted from the investment under the first wave of investment and 200 schools and colleges are benefiting from the current wave. 

The Welsh Government say they have invested £203m in capital maintenance over the last four years allowing local authorities and further education institutions in Wales to address key aspects of maintenance to their schools and colleges.