Full list so far of UK school closures forced over concrete risk in classrooms
A number of schools have so far announced closures as a result of concerns over crumbling buildings - with more expected to follow.
Chaos has erupted at schools across England as 104 sites have been found to contain the outdated building material, known as reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac). Aso far several have been ordered to remain closed until the material has been replaced amid concerns it could collapse.
Earlier today, Schools Minister Nick Gibb revealed a beam in a school previously thought safe collapsed over the summer. As a result, several have rushed to tell mums and dads the school holidays are set to be extended as builders get to work replacing the concrete.
Builders at Willowbrook Mead Primary Academy in Leicester (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)
The schools confirmed to be affected so far are:
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Ferryhill School (County Durham)
Willowbrook Mead Primary Academy (Leicester)
Parks Primary (Leicester)
Mayflower Primary School (Leicester)
Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School (London)
Crossflats Primary school (Bradford)
Eldwick Primary School (Bradford)
Cockermouth School (Cumbria)
Kingsdown School (Southend)
Abbey Lane Primary School (Sheffield)
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More than 100 schools, nurseries and colleges have been told to close classrooms (PA)The order follows a "loss of confidence in buildings containing the material", which is a lightweight form of concrete used in some public buildings from the 1950s until the 1970s. The Government has been criticised for refusing to release a list of schools affected by the RAAC closures.
Parents meanwhile have been told headteachers will let them know if they face a headache to start the new term. The general secretary of the National Education Union has slammed the Government as “incompetent”over the concrete scandal.
Daniel Kebede said: "It is absolutely disgraceful, and a sign of gross Government incompetence, a few days before the start of term 104 schools are finding out some or all of their buildings are unsafe and cannot be used.
Shipping containers at Crossflats Primary in Bradford (Lee McLean/SWNS)"To add insult to injury the Government states in its guidance it will not be covering the costs of emergency temporary accommodation or additional transport."
Earlier today Mr Gibb moved to reassure parents it is safe to send children to schools if they have not heard from head teachers to say buildings will remain closed. He told Times Radio they have taken a “very proactive approach” to identifying those which have the concrete in their buildings from 22,500 schools.
A taped off section inside Parks Primary School in Leicester (PA)He said: “Parents can be assured if they haven’t heard from schools, that it is safe to send their children into school.
“...More than any other governments in the world, we have been the most proactive in dealing with this issue. It’s been around since the mid-1990s over successive governments.
“But as evidence has emerged, we have taken a very proactive approach in trying to identify in the 22,500 schools - and indeed across the public sector as a whole - where Raac is.”
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