Council bosses have promised action to keep children safe after two Tyneside schools were forced to close because of structural problems.
St John Vianney Catholic Primary School in West Denton and St Columba's in Wallsend have both shut their doors after the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their ceiling panels. The substance is a weaker form of concrete used from the 1950s to the 1980s and its presence across the country has led to fears that many schools, hospitals, and other public buildings are in danger of collapse.
Both of the schools, which are part of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust, have been shut for the remainder of this week at least while investigations take place, though leaders have said that there is not an immediate health risk to pupils. At a Newcastle City Council meeting on Wednesday, councillors called for assurances that families would be given the proper support while children are forced to stay home and that proper checks are made on school buildings across the city.
Independent councillor Marc Donnelly asked the council to undertake a review of all schools “to ensure that the fabric and structure of these buildings are safe”.
Labour’s Karen Kilgour, the council’s deputy leader, responded: “I understand that schools are undergoing those inspections, certainly the other schools in that academy trust are. Clearly our children’s safety is absolutely paramount and I can assure council that our children’s school safety is a primary concern and we will ensure our buildings are safe for use.”
Coun Donnelly also asked the council to pause the redevelopment of the former Parkway School site in Chapel House, in case the land could be used for St John Vianney to relocate to if required. Coun Kilgour replied that she would not “make policy up on the hoof” about that.
She had earlier said that the city council was working with Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust to work on plans for temporary spaces that could be used to restore face-to-face teaching if all or part of St John Vianney must remain shut. Food vouchers are being issued to families whose children are entitled to free school meals, something Coun Kilgour said schools were “well-placed” to manage following their experiences during the Covid pandemic.
Denton and Westerhope ward councillor Dan Greenhough, who brought an emergency question to council on the school’s closure, said that the situation presented a “huge logistical challenge” for a school with more than 400 pupils and expressed hopes that pupils could return to classrooms next week.
St John Vianney parents were told in a letter published on Tuesday that the West Denton school would continue to be closed until next Tuesday “at least” while further investigations are carried out.
The letter adds: “The presence of RAAC is not an immediate health risk to pupils or staff. However, it is a substandard building material which can cause weakness to the structure of the building and ceiling panels. The report has indicated major signs of weakness in some parts of our building which are considered to be a risk if they are not repaired, maintained or replaced. Therefore, the school building must remain closed, whilst we review our options to make the building safe.
“Another school within our BBCET Trust is also in the same position and has had to temporarily close whilst structural investigations take place. Parents may have also seen reports in the media that nationally, public buildings such as schools and hospitals that contain RAAC, are being reviewed at present. During these national investigations, it has been found that historic RAAC panel failures have included significant collapses of whole roof structures, occurring suddenly with very little warning. Whilst this hasn’t happened at St John Vianney Catholic Primary School, the decision to temporarily close has been issued with the safety of children and staff in mind.”
Read Next:
