The new school year is beginning, but many students in England will not return to their classrooms after the Department of Education (DfE) ordered more than 100 schools to shut some of their buildings, citing the risks of crumbling concrete. 

The reason for the measure was the detection of dangerous levels of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), a material described as “80 per cent air” and “like an Aero Bar”, which could cause buildings to collapse. The material was widely used in roofs, floors and walls between the 1950s and 1990s.

The list of affected schools containing RAAC has reached 156; 104 of these require urgent action, the government said, while 52 have already received repair works. However, this number could rise as survey work continues. So far, an estimated 24 schools have been completely shut. 

Affected students will be relocated to new wings and classrooms or asked to begin the school year remotely, in a situation mirroring...