BITTER Gillian Keegan was caught on camera today moaning that she's done a "f***ing good job" sorting out the concrete crisis while others "sat on their ass".
The gaffe-prone Education Secretary began ranting about the scandal after finishing an interview with ITV, having forgotten her microphone was still switched on.
An under-fire Ms Keegan said: "Do you know what, does anyone ever say you know what you've done a f***ing good job as everyone else has sat on their arse and done nothing?
"No signs of that?"
A No10 source said Rishi Sunak retains "full confidence" in Ms Keegan.
The Education Secretary later "apologised" for her "off the cuff" remark.
She blamed ITV's "tough" interviewer for prompting the comments.
"I would like to apologise for my choice language, that was unnecessary," the red-faced Education Secretary said.
Responding to the debarcle, Shadow Schools Minister Stephen Morgan said: “This is a staggering admission that Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives have done nothing to address a problem that they have known about for years.
“The Education Secretary has displayed staggering arrogance for saying she deserves a pat on the back for the chaos that is gripping our schools on their watch.
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“Families, school leaders and school staff deserve an immediate apology for these appalling comments.”
The new school year kicked off in chaos today as the Education Secretary warned surveyors are still scrambling to check all pupils are safe from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
A total of 156 schools were told last week their buildings contained the crumbling concrete.
Of those, 104 have partially or completely closed, delaying the start of term for thousands of pupils.
For other kids returning to the classroom, lessons will take place in office blocks and portacabins.
With parliament back in session after a six-week summer break, ministers are under huge pressure to sort out the scandal.
Officials have bumped up the number of firms surveying buildings from two to eight.
It came as a former chief at the Department for Education claimed Rishi Sunak slashed funding to fix up reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) during his time as Chancellor.
But this morning Mr Sunak snapped back: " I think that is completely and utterly wrong.
"Actually one of the first things I did as chancellor, in my first spending review in 2020, was to announce a new 10-year school re-building programme for 500 schools.
"Now that equates to about 50 schools a year, that will be refurbished or rebuilt."
RAAC was widely used in public buildings from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Air pockets in the unstable concrete crumble, weakening structures.
Where RAAC was used for load-bearing walls or roofs, entire buildings are in danger of collapsing without warning.
The issue was first highlighted in 1999 and became a major issue after the partial collapse of a roof at a Kent school in 2018.
Ministers have come under fire for refusing to publish a full list of schools instructed to completely or partially shut down.
This morning Ms Keegan vowed a register will go live "this week".
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She insisted DfE officials want to be completely sure of the data before making it public.
The Education Secretary said: "We will publish the list, but I do want to double-check that the school has had the opportunity – because not all the schools are back yet – to tell all parents."
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