Lewisham Council has approved the complete removal of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) from the roof of Myatt Garden Primary School in Brockley, prioritising the safety of staff and students.
The decision was reached during a Mayor and Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, where approval was sought to procure a contractor for the remediation works. Councillor Hoon moved the report, emphasising that the structural works are fully funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and will not impact the Children and Young People (CYP) budget.
This item's pretty straightforward. It just relates to the removal of RAC, and as you said, reinforced autoclave aerated concrete found at Myatt Garden Primary School,
Councillor Hoon said. This report now seeks the approval of Mayor and Cabinet to procure and award a capital works contract to completely remove the RAC.
Following the initial identification of RAAC, the council undertook mitigation and remedial work to ensure the safety of staff and students. Temporary measures were completed over the October 2023 half-term, allowing the kitchen to re-open and the sports hall to be used as a dining area. More substantial mitigation, designed by the Council's structural engineer, was implemented over the Easter and Summer holidays in 2024. This involved installing wooden batons to the underside of the RAAC planks, along with adjoining steel trusses, to reinforce the roof structure and reduce the risk of failure.
Mayor Brenda Dacres thanked the officers involved, acknowledging the work done to ensure the school could remain open during the remediation. She also requested that her gratitude be conveyed to those who have worked around the affected area, enabling the school to stay open during this period.
The recommendations were agreed, with a Part 2 confidential report associated with the item also noted.
