The Department of Education’s update report identified two additional schools in Hampshire with RAAC, one closed in Basingstoke since the beginning of the academic year.

The Department of Education has released an updated report listing 43 additional schools across England where RAAC has been identified. The total number of schools and colleges that were partially or fully shut due to RAAC has increased from 104 to 217.

In Hampshire, Hounsdown School in Totton, Cranbourne in Basingstoke, and Farnborough College of Technology were found to have this compound in their structures.

As a result, parts of the Cranbourne were closed due to temporary works being undertaken to one section of the building to ensure safety use, and other areas have been taken out of service since the beginning of the year. But Hampshire County Council indicated that the secondary school reopened for the new academic year as normal.

The updated list dated October 16 included two more settings, St Anne’s Catholic Primary School in Basingstoke, which is closed and Havant Academy in Leigh Park.

On September 1, St Anne’s Catholic Primary School sent a letter to parents informing them of the DoE decision to close the school as an emergency safety measure.

In the letter, the Primary school said. “DfE-commissioned survey recently identified that RAAC panels were used in the construction of the St Anne’s Catholic Primary School building. As a result, the DfE directed the Trust that they have taken the difficult decision to temporarily deem St Anne’s school.

“We understand the disruption this will cause, however we have not been left with any choice than to temporarily close as we put emergency measures in place. We were informed that this decision “has been taken out of an abundance of caution to ensure children and staff safety”.

“The DfE are committed to supporting us throughout and will also be assisting with longer-term remediation measures so that we can bring children back together once we are fully confident it is either safe to do so or, where it is deemed necessary, arrange temporary accommodation.”

For its part, Havant Academy, all PE changing rooms and the Drama Theatre are closed.

In a letter to parents, the Academy said, “For the foreseeable future and until we have alternative changing rooms, students will need to come into school in their PE kit on the days that they have PE and Dance on their timetable. The drama will be rehoused in another large room.”

Hampshire County Council and St Anne’s Catholic Primary School have been contacted for comments.