Its been a testing first day back after the Summer Recess for the government, now mired in the controversy over crumbling concrete. Ministers say a list will be published this week of all the schools affected in england, as rishi sunak rejected claims he oversaw budget cuts as chancellor that meant Raac Concrete couldnt be replaced in as many schools, as the Department For Education had wanted. Its also been a testing day for the Education Secretary, who had to apologise for her frustration, expressed in salty language, after being questioned over the governments handling of the situation. And remember, in the middle of all this are thousands of children, still unsure whether their schools will be fully open for the start of the new term. We will talk to parents and teachers and analyse the finances around School Maintenance and rebuilding. But first chris mason In Westminster on the politics of crumbling concrete. You probably hadnt heard of it until the other day but this stuff, conc
This came after the Prime Minister rejected suggestions that he oversaw budget cuts that meant that crumbling concrete in schools in england was not replaced. It comes after claims from a former senior Civil Servant that rishi sunak halved the money available for the safety work while he was chancellor in 2021. This afternoon the Education Secretary apologised after her frustration boiled over during questioning about the way the government was handling the situation. It all comes as thouands of School Children mainly in england start the new term not sure whether their schools will be fully open or not. We start tonight with our Political Editor chris mason on a busy first day back for mp5. Fight night good evening, sophie. Certainly they fight night good evening, sophie. Certainly they see fight night good evening, sophie. Certainly they see as fight night good evening, sophie. Certainly they see as mp5 fight night good evening, sophie. Certainly they see as mps return i certainly th
For poor performances in training. Good afternoon. The new School Year Begins in england this week with more than 100 schools completely or partially closed because of fears about crumbling concrete, known as raac. A former top Civil Servant has accused the Prime Minister rishi sunak of cutting the money for School Repairs when he was chancellor mr sunak says its Utterly Wrong to blame him. In scotland, 35 schools are affected and checks are under way in wales and northern ireland. Ellie price reports. School is back. Sort of. But not for those affected by the wrong kind of concrete. For many, it has meant a partial closure of School Buildings and a mad scramble right at the start of a new school year, to find alternatives. We at the start of a new school year, to find alternatives. At the start of a new school year, to find alternatives. We have Three Com Anies to find alternatives. We have three companies coming to find alternatives. We have three companies coming out to find alterna
And scotland will be fully or partially closed today, because of concerns about crumbling concrete. Investigations are also under way in schools in wales and Northern Ireland. Ministers have promised to speed up checks on schools where the material, known as raac, may have been used. 0ur reporter Louisa Pilbeam reports. From the midlands to suffolk. And london. More than 100 schools in england look like this today, with buildings roped off and closed on what for many should be the first day of the new term. The problem crumbling concrete called raac, meaning many schools are unsafe. Sarah, a mum of two who didnt want to be on camera, told us. The main issue for me is we dont have any certainty about when the children are going Back To School. The lack of certainty right now is worrying for everyone. The school havent been that specific about the actual meanwhile, on social media sites, including mumsnet, one parent said. The government has been criticised for not acting faster despite