Following the discovery of RAAC at the Magna Carta School in Egham, I was pleased to work with the Trust and Ministers to press for not only immediate support to support continued delivery of education on site, but also a commitment to rebuild areas of the school affected.
It was in March last year the then Secretary of State for Education confirmed this major investment the Government’s School Rebuilding Programme, and that work would be undertaken to replace the RAAC affected tower with new facilities and to assess further buildings on site which may benefit from replacement. Yet since then, no further update has been provided.
Given Magna Carta School already had ambitious plans to redevelop other areas of the site, it would make sense for this work to be undertaken as one project, and for the Government to support a full rebuild of the site.
I was therefore pleased to have the opportunity to raise this again with the Education Minister last week, who confirmed that the feasibility for the scope of works on site, and it is expected that procurement for the works will begin later this year.
Given the impact any works will undoubtedly have on students and the school community, clear communication is vital, and I will continue to urge the Department to set out the full scale of works, and when they will take place, at the earliest opportunity. I fully support the school in its aims to secure fantastic new facilities on site, and will work to ensure this is delivered as soon as possible with every effort taken to minimise disruption.
