EDUCATION unions accused the Tories of failing to take the crumbling concrete crisis seriously today, after it emerged that 43 more schools are at risk. 

The Department for Education (DfE) has identified a total of 214 schools and colleges that face structural issues due to their use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac).

The material is known to deteriorate over time, particularly in damp environments, which has led to incidents across the country where school roofs have collapsed.

NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede slammed the Tories for not having a serious commitment to addressing the crisis. 

He said: “The number of schools with Raac continues to rise, and we are nowhere near the conclusion of this saga.

“Their reluctance to publish on time speaks volumes, demonstrating that there is a failure at the heart of government to take seriously the various crises facing education.”

National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) general secretary Paul Whiteman said: “While ministers have made promises over funding and support for schools, there is no clear timeline for when work will be completed and there appears to be no end in sight to this crisis.

“The government must set out clearly when it will provide the longer-term funding our school buildings desperately needed.”

Labour’s shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the “drip drip” of schools added to the list was “yet more evidence of chaos from a Tory government that has no grip on the extent of crumbling school buildings.”

She said: “It’ll be no surprise to parents that, with ministers overseeing such a shambles, they have published this ‘fortnightly’ update two weeks late. 

“The defining image of 13 years of Conservative government is children cowering under steel props to stop the roof falling in.”

According to the NAHT, many schools are “still waiting” for temporary classrooms, while plans for rebuilding are “even more nebulous.”

According to Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, 94 per cent of pupils who attended the schools and colleges with Raac are still getting full-time face-to-face education “thanks to the hard work” of leaders.

“I want to reassure pupils, parents and staff that this government is doing whatever it takes to support our schools and colleges in responding to Raac and minimise disruption to education,” she said.