New £38m school only open since January tells all children to work from home after broken pipe causes flooding

A new build £38m school told all pupils to work from home after a broken pipe caused flooding.

The re-built Pencoedtre High School in Barry only opened in January and all 1,000 pupils are learning from home on the first day back after half term.

A broken pipe caused extensive flooding on the first floor during the weekend which meant the mains water supply has had to be cut off, said headteacher Lee Humphreys.

Take a look inside the new Pencoedtre High School building which includes views to the sea, a full size sports hall, science labs, and music studios here .

Part of the canteen areas (pictured) was flooded, as well as classrooms and the reception area (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

He could not say the cost of flood damage but said classrooms, the reception area and canteen on the first floor had all been affected with an inch of water covering the floors in some places.

Mr Humphreys and other staff went in immediately the flood was noticed on Sunday and helped clear up. The school will re-open tomorrow, he said on Monday February 28.

He said: “One of the pipes under a basin in the downstairs toilets came away. It was something relatively small but meant we had to turn off the mains water supply and we can’t open a school without water.

“The problem started at 6.30am on Sunday and by the time I was made aware it had flooded a significant part of the ground floor and we had to turn off the mains water to stop the flood.

“The water was an inch deep in some places but we had cleared the majority of the water by 5pm. It was a substantial but manageable flood because it only involved one pipe.”

Mr Humphreys said one small ray of light from the Covid pandemic was that the school could immediately switch to remote learning for all pupils.

“There are not many positives from the pandemic but one is the advances in learning at home so we have started blended learning with all staff ensuring that all pupils can learn from home today.”

A message on the school's website says: "Due to circumstances beyond our control, school will be shut on Monday 28 February. Work will be available for all students through Google Classroom for the day."

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesperson said: “Pencoedtre High School will be closed today after a burst water pipe caused flooding, with pupils taught remotely.

“Repairs and cleaning are being carried out and it is expected the school will open as normal tomorrow.”

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