 told them to close areas where Raac was present. Only one setting still has pupils in full remote learning, down from four two weeks ago. Twenty-three settings are providing a mix of face-to-face and remote arrangements, up from 20 on 30 August. There are no schools which remain closed following the summer holidays. In the first set of figures, there were 19 either closed or delaying the start of term due to Raac. Three post-16 education settings have also been added to the list of sites affected by crumbling concrete. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the government was taking a "cautious approach". "School and local leaders deserve huge credit for making sure the vast majority of settings with confirmed Raac are continuing to offer pupils face-to-face learning - including all of the 147 schools initially identified two weeks ago," she said. Raac is a lightweight material that was used mostly in flat roofing, but also in floors and walls, between the 1950s and 1990s. It is a cheaper alternative to standard concrete and has a lifespan of about 30 years. Officials have been aware of issues with Raac for decades. But in June this year, a report by the National Audit Office said years of insufficient funding had increased the risk of a building collapse. O){kind=link}
The number of schools in England affected by crumbling concrete has increased to 174, new figures published by the government show.
The number stood at 147 as of 30 August, but has increased by 27 as of 14 September.
Officials said surveyors had been checking hundreds of schools every week for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, known as Raac.
The government said it would be updating its list every two weeks.
Despite the increase in cases of confirmed Raac, more pupils in affected schools have been able to return to full-time face-to-face education since the first list was released.