Warwick's MP has criticised the Government for not taking action sooner to address the issues around Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in schools across the country.

Both Aylesford School and Myton School have been forced to delay students returning to school this week, alongside hundreds of other schools nationwide

On Friday (September 1) RAAC was found at Myton by an official appointed by the Department for Education (DfE).

Meanwhile Aylesford announced on Year 7 and 12 students would be returning this week, due to unspecified safety concerns regarding the school's construction.

But with the former having twice told DfE that there was RAAC in the school - through an department questionnaire in November 2022 and an independent survey in April 2023 - local MP Matt Western has asked why action was not taken sooner.

"Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives have done nothing to address a problem that they have known about for years," the Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington said.

"The first act of the Conservative government in 2010 was to axe Labour's £56 billion schools rebuilding programme.

"Even in 2020, when it was estimated that 300-400 schools a year would need significant works or re-builds, the Government agreed to just one hundred.

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"That figure was then reduced to 50 by the then chancellor, Rishi Sunak.

"More broadly, parents deserve to know where these schools are, what ministers knew about this dangerous concrete and what they plan to do to minimise yet more disruption to children's education."

Matt Western said he was 'alarmed' at the cuts to Myton's capital budget (image supplied)

Mr Western visited both schools on Monday (September 4) to see the scale of the problems first hand.

He was "alarmed" to hear of the "significant" decline of Myton's capital budget since 2010. The school was also unsuccessful in bidding for funding from the School Rebuilding Programme in the last year.

"The inaction of the DfE and underfunding of school buildings has led to a similarly chaotic start to the academic year at schools up and down the country," Mr Western added.

"Many parents have expressed their concerns about how the rocky start to the year will affect their children's education.

"Meanwhile, schools have been left without the guidance and resources needed to create a certain start to the school year."

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As of the day after Matt Western's efforts with DfE, it is understood that civil servants have been in touch with Myton School to let them know that they will be prioritised.