When parents will be told about school closures and how long kids will be out
A top Tory has admitted that some schools still haven't been informed that they could have to close because of dangerous concrete.
Schools minister Nick Gibb conceded that calls are being put in today as staff scramble to find alternative places to educate children. On average, Mr Gibb said, pupils are out of education for six days if their schools are forced to shut. More than 100 schools and colleges are being told told to partially or fully close buildings as children prepared to return to classes after the summer holidays because of fears over concrete which could suddenly collapse. The Department for Education (DfE) said a minority of the state facilities may have to move completely and some children may be forced back into pandemic-style remote learning.
Schools minister Nick Gibb admitted not all headteachers have yet been informed (ITV)Which schools are closing?
So far the Government has refused to publicly reveal the 104 schools and colleges which have been told to shut buildings after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was discovered. This morning Schools Minister Nick Gibb defended the decision not to release a full list. He said: "We want schools to talk to parents first before they read about it in the media."
A few schools affected are known, however. The local authority in Bradford revealed that RAAC was detected in Crossflatts Primary School and Eldwick Primary School in the West Yorkshire city. The council said interim alterations to safe areas will be finished by Sunday and temporary classrooms on both school sites have been ordered and should arrive within the next 16 weeks. Elsewhere, the BBC reports affected schools include Ferryhill School, a secondary in County Durham, Willowbrook Mead Primary Academy in Leicester and Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School in Brixton, south London.
Experts warn schools where RAAC is found are at heightened risk of collapse (ITV News)When will parents be told?
Many were told yesterday, while others will find out today, the Government said. Some school leaders have yet to be told about the massive disruption they face, Mr Gibb admitted. Asked if all schools have been informed, the minister told Sky News: "The vast majority have. We've been calling them yesterday but there's a few more that we're calling today. These schools are talking to parents about what's happening."
Nursery apologises after child with Down's syndrome ‘treated less favourably’
How long will children be out of school for?
This will vary depending on school capacity in the surrounding area. But The minister said that many pupils could be out of school for over a week if theirs is forced to shut. Mr Gibb said: "On average we find that it's about six days. But we want it to be even less than that."
Why are parents being told so close to the start of term?
The Government has come under fire for informing schools they need to close at such short notice before the start of term on Monday. The schools minister told GB News that new evidence uncovered over the summer gave the DfE no choice but to act. He said: "The decision is being taken now because over the summer, evidence has emerged about buildings in this country and in other countries - not just schools - where reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) that was considered to be non-critical, actually turned out to fail.
"So we took a very strict decision over the summer, we liaised with experts, and we took a cautious approach to make sure, because safety of children and staff in our schools is of the utmost importance." He added: "I know parents and children will be frustrated by this but our paramount concern is the safety of children and staff in those schools."
Will more schools follow?
The minister admitted that there may be more schools affected by RAAC closures, with further survey results still to come. He said: "It's in 156 schools. There may be more after that as these questionnaires continue to be surveyed and we continue to do more surveying work."
* Follow Mirror Politics on Snapchat, Tiktok, Twitter and Facebook.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
