Raac-affected school set for major redevelopment

Plans have been drawn up to carry out a major redevelopment of a Wakefield school built with potentially unsafe concrete.

St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School in Sandal is one of 234 schools in England found to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), which can deteriorate over time and pose a structural risk.

Proposals are due to be submitted to Wakefield Council to demolish the majority of buildings to make way for modern facilities.

A planning document said: "Redevelopment will replace outdated accommodation with safe, modern and sustainable facilities."

Documents submitted to the local authority said the school in Barnsley Road had been identified as a priority within the government's school rebuilding programme "due to safety issues, which affect day‑to‑day operations".

A formal planning application is yet to be submitted, but details of the scheme are outlined in a request for a screening opinion from the council, the Local Democracy Service reports.

Planning regulations require applicants to request a screening opinion if the size of urban development projects exceed 2.4 acres (one hectare).

A screening opinion indicates whether an environmental impact assessment is likely to be required before a planning application can proceed.

Initial plans include the construction of a three-storey building, new parking and access, a sports area, landscaping and a special educational needs and disabilities garden.

A two-storey building within the site, which houses a sports hall, would be retained and refurbished.

When completed, the new facility would provide 78,942 sq ft (7,334 sq m) of floor space within the 13.8-acre (5.6-hectare) site.

The report said: "The redevelopment proposals will see the demolition of several blocks which have been identified as being in poor condition, containing Raac or having structural or functional deficiencies.

"The building will broadly take the form of an L-shaped arrangement, consolidating the number of buildings on site, particularly where they front Barnsley Road.

"The delivery of the proposed scheme will be phased, minimising disruption and enabling the ongoing operations of the school on-site."

The school had to be temporarily closed in October 2023 following the discovery of Raac.

It later reopened to Year 11 pupils, while others studied at home.

In January 2024, the school announced that temporary classrooms would be installed to accommodate more than 600 pupils.

Raac has a lifespan of around 30 years and was used between the 1950s and 1990s as a lightweight construction material.

In August 2023, schools, colleges and nurseries across England were forced to shut when the Raac in the properties was found to be dangerous.

The Department for Education committed to fund the removal of Raac in educational establishments in February 2024.

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