Janice R. Andrews
According to a recent investigation by Durham University professors, Raac (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) has caused kids at English institutions, such St Leonard’s Catholic School, to obtain up to a 10% exam increase. The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust commissioned the report, which emphasised the substantial disruption unsafe buildings produce, leading to school closures and a switch to online and temporary learning environments
The trust called the assistance thus far “unhelpful, inadequate, and underwhelming,” citing Raac as the reason St. Leonard’s had to close one day before the start of the school year. In the paper, interviews with faculty and students revealed worries about students’ lack of exam preparation, which was made worse by earlier disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Exam boards should make up for the “lost learning” by providing qualification outcomes that are comparable to what would have happened in the absence of the crisis, according to the Durham University paper. It suggested a “minimum” 5% boost in exam scores, with a larger gain (perhaps 10%) contingent on the specifics of each subject’s disruption.
The Department for Education (DfE) has, however, previously declared that it was not practical to alter assessments for particular student groups experiencing varying disruptions. Exam boards are advised by Ofqual to provide priority to schools impacted by Raac, while the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) recommended schools to seek support on an individual basis.
The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust demanded a just and proper degree of consideration, criticising the examination system’s lack of provisions for schools in this particular circumstance. Nick Hurn, CEO of the trust, highlighted the serious effect on pupils’ exam chances, drawing comparisons to the disruptions brought on by Covid-19.
This year, unsafe St. Leonard’s buildings are to be demolished, although it will likely take some time to replace. According to the research, 231 schools in England have been verified as having Raac, and the list may continue to expand. Subjects other than practical and lab-based disciplines were impacted in certain schools by difficulties gaining access to specialised areas.
Labour MP Mary Kelly Foy called for sincere assurances from ministers, expressing worry at the gravity of the issue. She denounced the DfE, Ofqual, and examination boards for their inability to recognise the gravity of the Raac situation, calling it a disastrous error in judgement.
Mr. Hurn, CEO of the trust, conceded that it may not be expected for teachers to evaluate students, as demonstrated by the exam cancellations in 2020 and 2021. But in order to address the difficulties students are facing as a result of the Raac issue, he called for a fair and acceptable level of consideration.
