Reading council has responded to fears that schools in the town have potentially dangerous concrete which could pose a health and safety risk.

The concern centres around reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), which is more lightweight and cheaper than traditional concrete but can deteriorate over time.

Concerns about the structural integrity of buildings with RAAC including public buildings and schools have led to 147 schools delaying the beginning of teaching or conducting education online due to the potential safety risk.

Before the start of the school term this month, the Department of Education asked responsible authorities to confirm whether RAAC is present in school buildings.

However, there are no confirmed cases of the potentially dangerous concrete being present at state schools in Reading.

A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said: “The DfE has asked all bodies responsible for school buildings to confirm whether RAAC is present and to assess its condition.

“That work is ongoing in Reading and specialist surveyors have confirmed, of the local authority-maintained schools visited to date, no Reading school has at this stage been identified with such issues. A very small number of schools remain to be assessed and these should be completed over the coming days.

“Local academy trusts have also been contacted by the DfE to carry out their own reviews and BFFC (Brighter Futures for Children) have followed this up by writing directly to the trusts.

“Again, no issues have been reported to date.”