Update Wednesday 13 December
Below is the updated list of the affected schools in Essex.
This is a definitive list as of 13 December 2023.
It precedes any other information that is in the public domain.
Maintained:
| School Name |
Status |
Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Baynards Primary School | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Beehive Lane Community Primary School | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Bentfield Primary School and Nursery | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Broomfield Primary School | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Eversley Primary School | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Great Leigh Primary School | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Hatfield Peverel St Andrew's Junior School | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Henham and Ugley Primary and Nursery School | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Holy Trinity C of E Primary School Eight Ash Green and Aldham | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Mersea Island School | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Priory Primary School | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Spring Meadow Primary School | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Springfield Primary School | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| St Lawrence Church of England Primary School Rowhedge | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
|
Stanway Fiveways Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
|
White Court School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Academies:
| School Name | Status | Situation |
|---|---|---|
Anglo European School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Barnes Farm Junior School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Buckhurst Hill Community Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
|
Buttsbury Junior School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
| Cann Hall Primary School | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Cherry Tree Academy Colchester |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Chipping Ongar Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Clacton County High School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Elm Hall Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Elmstead Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Harlowbury Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Harwich and Dovercourt High School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Hatfield Heath Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Hillhouse C of E Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Hockley Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Jerounds Primary Academy |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Joyce Franklin Academy Newport |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Katherine Semar Infant School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Katherine Semar Junior School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Katherines Primary Academy and Nursery |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Lambourne Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Lubbins Park Primary Academy |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
|
Manningtree High School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Merrylands |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Mistley Norman Church of England Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Ravens Academy |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Roding Valley High School |
Open |
All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
|
Southview School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
St Helena School |
Open |
All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Steeple Bumpstead Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Tendring Technology College |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
The Billericay School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
The Bromfords School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
The FitzWimarc School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
The Gilberd School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
The Honywood Community Science School |
Open |
All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
The Ramsey Academy |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
The Thomas Lord Audley |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Thurstable School Sports College and Sixth Form College |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning. |
Water Lane Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning |
Wells Park School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning |
White Hall Academy and Nursery |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning |
| Winter Gardens Academy | Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning |
|
Woodville Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning |
|
Wyburns Primary School |
Open | All pupils in face-to-face learning |
Update Tuesday 5 September
STATEMENT: Latest regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools:
Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “Essex is a large county and, collectively, we have responsibility for educating circa 220,000 school aged children and young people, across an estate of circa 550 schools.
“54 schools are currently identified as having known RAAC within Essex, requiring immediate action as a result of the change in Department of Education (DfE) policy made on Thursday 31 August 2023. Up until that date, for schools for which Essex County Council is the responsible body, we had been working with the DfE to manage RAAC in these settings.
“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.
“Of the 54 schools on the list, 15 are local authority maintained schools. 14 of these schools are able to open next week due to mitigation measures having been put in place.
“Unfortunately, one maintained school will need to close temporarily due to the severity of the RAAC across the school building. Parents have been communicated to around arrangements for the start of the school term. We are working tirelessly with the school to find an appropriate solution as quickly as possible.
“The remaining 39 schools are academies, for which the academy trust is the responsible body. We have been working closely with academy trusts and the DfE to understand the impact and provide support where necessary.
“The council has always been diligent in ensuring that we have surveyed schools and ensured that when RAAC issues have been identified we have taken necessary action. We are confident that there are no additional maintained schools that have RAAC. In light of changing guidance and the latest information, like many other Local Authorities we will be reviewing our data and undertaking further surveys if necessary to ensure all RAAC is identified and then addressed. We expect academy trusts will do the same.
“I would like to acknowledge that 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. 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.”
Background
On 31 August 2023, the Department for Education published new guidance regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools.
This guidance outlines that urgent action must be taken at any schools with known RAAC, unless a structural mitigation is already in place.
If mitigations are not already in place, then buildings affected must not be used until the RAAC has been secured through a structural intervention. Surveys will also need to take place to ensure ongoing safety.
We have communicated to all Essex schools and have been working quickly to support the minority of schools affected by this new guidance to minimise disruption to pupils and families.
I am a parent/carer, what should I do?
Unless informed otherwise by your child’s school, parents should ensure their child attends school as normal when the new term begins.
Parents and carers of children at affected schools will be communicated to directly by their child's school with information and updates.
Where can I read the new guidance?
Read the new guidance.
Further useful information for parents is available at the Department for Education website.