Isle of Anglesey County Council

Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC)


Updates

Given the evolving nature of developments relating to RAAC within Ysgol David Hughes and Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi, we will now be publishing updates on this page. 

Ysgol David Hughes and Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi will also continue to communicate developments with parents / guardians directly.

Update: 22 December

  • Following the completion of substantial building works, the school has had full access to the first floor of block C and the middle floor of the new block (since 18 December)
  • As a result, the art department can return to their usual rooms and maths teachers can move from the main hall and examination room to mainly individual classrooms (with two classes in ‘The Harbour’)
  • Remedial work in Block C will begin in early January.

Update: 27 October

  • The first floor is expected to come back into use soon after half-term; increasing capacity within the building.
  • Detailed inspection work has confirmed that the design of the roofs allows adequate support for the RAAC panels.
  • The results of a laser scan inspection are awaited to identify any individual panels that require restoration works. The timetable for returning the second floor back to school use is dependent on the number of panels identified.

Update: 22 September

  • Scaffolding works underway which should provide access to sixth form area by Monday 25 September. This will provide a significant boost by releasing additional space and providing more teaching capacity within the school.
  • More information in our latest press release

Update: 14 September

  • Parents / guardians of pupils from Ysgol David Hughes will receive free school meal payments if their child / children are eligible.
  • Free school meal payments for the days children were unable to attend the above school buildings (due to on-going issues with RAAC) will be processed by the end of this week.
  • These payments will be made directly to the parent / guardian’s bank account.
  • If you are a parent / guardian of a child/children who attend these schools and are eligible for free school meals, and have not received the payment by Tuesday 19 September, please contact the authority on 01248 750 057 and then choose option 3, then option 1.

Read the press release for more information.

Update: 11 September

  • From Tuesday 12 September onwards, Ysgol David Hughes will welcome back all year groups to the school building.
  • Some areas of the building will continue to be unavailable, and some lessons will take place in alternative locations (such as the hall, examination room and the library).
  • Remedial works continue to be undertaken to allow access to additional areas within the school building.

Download: Letter to parents/guardians from Ysgol David Hughes: 11 September 2023 [538KB | PDF]

Update: 8 September

Evening update

  • On Monday 11 September, the school building will be partially open to Years 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13.
  • Online learning will be provided for Year 9 pupils (on Monday 11 September).
  • Currently, the school is unable to accommodate all pupils in the school building. This means that one year group each-day will have online lessons in rotation. More information will be provided next week.

More information is available in the letter that was sent by Ysgol David Hughes to update parents and guardians (letter sent 8 September).

Morning update

A letter was sent to parents and guardians by Ysgol David Hughes on the evening of 7 Sepetmber.

Download: Letter to parents/guardians from Ysgol David Hughes: 7 September 2023 [277KB | PDF]

Update: 7 September

  • The school has partially re-opened for Years 7, 11 and 12 pupils today (Thursday 7 September).
  • The school will be partially open to Years, 7, 8, 11 and 12 tomorrow (Friday 8 September)
  • Staff and pupils will be re-located to areas in the school that are not affected by RAAC.
  • Additional remedial works are being undertaken in the hope of allowing further pupils to return to the safely, and as soon as possible.

Download: Letter to parents/guardians from Ysgol David Hughes: 6 September 2023 [600KB | PDF]

Update: 5 September

  • The school will partially re-open for Years 7, 11 and 12 pupils on Thursday 7 September.
  • Staff and pupils will be re-located to areas in the school that are not affected by RAAC.
  • Additional remedial works are being undertaken in the hope of allowing further pupils to return to the safely, and as soon as possible.

Parents and guardians of Ysgol David Hughes have been made aware of these developments. The schools will continue to update them regularly.

Update: 4 September

Following urgent discussions with the Welsh Government and taking into consideration advice provided to English Education settings by the UK government, it has been agreed to temporarily close Ysgol David Hughes so that further safety inspections can be carried out and that alternative planning can take place.

Update: 10 January

  • Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi (Holyhead) welcomed all pupils back to the school building on Wednesday 10 January.
  • All pupils were welcomed back to the school building after significant remedial works in teaching blocks A and C, the cafeteria, and other key areas had been completed.
  • More information on our latest press release

Update: 22 December

  • Work on the various block buildings is progressing very well.
  • Teaching block A and C will be available to move furniture back on 5 January and 6 January.
  • The school will be closed to pupils on 8 January and 9 January to allow teachers to move back to their classrooms and for office staff to relocate their workstations.
  • All pupils will return to the school on 10 January .
  • Remedial works to the cafeteria are almost complete and this will allow full access.
  • The reception is still currently located at the back of the school building (the main reception remains closed)

Update: 27 October

  • Work on the various block buildings is progressing. Once complete, the schools can provide more opportunities for face-to-face learning.
  • Remedial works to the cafeteria are almost complete and will allow full access.
  • Remedial works in the two gyms are also underway.

Update: 22 September

  • Remedial works to the cafeteria are expected to begin on Monday 25 September and should take around three weeks. When complete this will allow full access to the cafeteria.
  • From Monday 25 September, the school will increase the access to face-to-face teaching by one year group. Online learning will continue to be provided to the year groups not in the school building during the week.
  • More information in our latest press release.

More information is available in the letter that was sent by Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi to update parents and guardians. The letter sent 21 September.

Update: 14 September

  • Parents / guardians of pupils from Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi will receive free school meal payments if their child / children are eligible.
  • Free school meal payments for the days children were unable to attend the above school buildings (due to on-going issues with RAAC) will be processed by the end of this week.
  • These payments will be made directly to the parent / guardian’s bank account.
  • If you are a parent / guardian of a child/children who attend these schools and are eligible for free school meals, and have not received the payment by Tuesday 19 September, please contact the authority on 01248 750 057 and then choose option 3, then option 1.

Read the press release for more information.

Update: 8 September

  • From Monday 11 September, the school building will partially re-open to two year groups at a time.
  • Additionally, the school building will partially re-open to years 12 and 13 for individual lessons from Monday 11 September.
  • Additional remedial works are being undertaken in the hope of allowing further pupils to return to the safely, and as soon as possible.

More information is available in the letter that was sent by Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi to update parents and guardians (letter sent 8 September).

Update: 5 September

  • All pupils will receive tuition through online learning (from Thursday 7 September).
  • No pupils will return to the school this week.
  • It is hoped that some pupils will be able to return next week after further specialist inspections have been undertaken.

Parents and guardians of Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi have been made aware of these developments. The schools will continue to update them regularly.

Update: 4 September

Following urgent discussions with the Welsh Government and taking into consideration advice provided to English Education settings by the UK government, it has been agreed to temporarily close Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi so that further safety inspections can be carried out and that alternative planning can take place.

Background

Isle of Anglesey County Council is aware of the nationwide issue of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) within public buildings.

RAAC is a lightweight form of concrete and was used in the construction of schools, colleges, and other buildings from the 1950s until the mid-1990s.

Inspections

The county council was made aware of potential issues of RAAC since it was raised via the Local Government Association in 2019/20.

Consequently, buildings affected by RAAC have received specialist annual inspections by external surveyors. All inspections have concluded that there were no immediate risks or concerns.

RAAC in schools

The presence of RAAC has been confirmed in two local authority maintained secondary schools: Ysgol David Hughes and Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi.