Raac school closures: The North East schools affected by weak concrete
Thousands of pupils across the region are facing a delayed start to the school year due to potentially unsafe facilities.
More than 100 school and colleges across the country have been told to close or partially close buildings just days before children are due to return to the classroom after the summer holidays.
So far at least nine schools in the North East, as well as one in Scarborough, have confirmed they have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in their buildings.
The lightweight form of concrete is weaker than normal building material and there are fears it can collapse suddenly.
The Government is under pressure to reveal list of schools hit by Raac concrete crisis.
The Department for Education (DfE) said Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is due to inform Parliament on Monday 4 September “of the plan to keep parents and the public updated on the issue."
Which schools in the North East are affected?
St Bede’s Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College, in Peterlee
In a statement, headteacher Frances Cessford, said: "St. Bede’s Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form have two buildings of three buildings closed.
"Please rest assured that we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to minimise disruption and to ensure that pupils continue to receive the best education.
"We expect that from Wednesday we will have arrangements in place to allow each year group to be taught by our staff face-to-face on a rota basis in school, with the other year groups learning virtually. We are currently working on logistical arrangements and ensuring all the necessary health and safety and safeguarding checks are in place.
"The Department for Education will be supporting us throughout and will also be assisting with longer-term remediation measures so that we can bring all pupils back into school once we are fully confident it is safe to do so.
"The education and safety of our pupils and staff remains paramount. We would like to thank our pupils, parents and staff for their continued patience and support."
A letter to parents said: “As the main buildings at Ferryhill School were built in 1964, we have undertaken inspection work throughout the summer, and earlier this week the surveying and engineering team confirmed that there are issues in our two main blocks.
“We are currently working with our surveyors to ascertain a way forward.
“Unfortunately, as a result of this, we are unable to open the building to Ferryhill students on Tuesday 5th September and have no choice but to delay the start of the new school year.”
Parts of the building are unaffected and year 7 pupils will be able to start the new term on 11 September, the letter added.
Other year groups will receive remote education from that date.
St Leonard’s Catholic School, Durham
Nick Hurn, chief executive of Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, wrote to parents of students at St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham to say a DfE-commissioned survey had identified that Raac panels were used in the construction of the building.
It said it is planning to use the Radisson hotel for two days this week for sessions for sixth formers.
In a email sent to parents on Monday, which has been seen by the PA news agency, the school said staff had now also toured potential teaching space at the University of Durham.
St Teresa’s Primary School, Darlington
Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy confirmed she was informed the school is affected by RAAC.
In a post on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, described the situation as “shambolic”.
In a message on the school’s website, headteacher Mrs Strachan said a “difficult decision” had been made to close the school.
It will initially be closed until Monday 11 September and the school will be working with Department for Education appointed surveyors to establish the extent of the problem and to identify the next steps.
Carmel College, Darlington
The college has advised parents and staff that the kitchen and library will need to be temporarily vacated to allow for further investigations to take place.
The school will remain open but there will be some disruption to classrooms and only a limited food menu.
Pupils from Year 7-11 are asked to take a packed lunch for the first week but food will be available for any pupils in receipt of free school meals.
St James Catholic School, Hebburn
In a statement, headteacher Francesca Heslop, said: "St. James Catholic Primary School, Hebburn’s school building is currently closed.
"Pupils will access education virtually on Tuesday and Wednesday while we finalise alternative arrangements.
"Please rest assured that we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to minimise disruption and to ensure that pupils continue to receive the best education.
"We are working on alternative arrangements for our pupils to be taught by our staff face- to-face in other Trust school premises locally. We are currently working on logistical arrangements and ensuring all the necessary health and safety and safeguarding checks are in place.
"The Department for Education will be supporting us throughout and will also be assisting with longer-term remediation measures so that we can bring all pupils back into school once we are fully confident it is safe to do so.
"The education and safety of our pupils and staff remains paramount. We would like to thank our pupils, parents and staff for their continued patience and support."
St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Sunderland
In a statement, headteacher Lianne Peart, said: "St. John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Sunderland’s school building is currently closed. Pupils will access education provision provided by school from Tuesday while we finalise alternative arrangements.
"Please rest assured that we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to minimise disruption and to ensure that children continue to receive the best education.
"We are working on alternative arrangements to have Nursery and Reception children taught face to face by our staff at English Martyrs Catholic Primary School.
"We are currently working on logistical arrangements and ensuring all the necessary health and safety and safeguarding checks are in place. Our Year 1- 6 pupils will be situated at Gabriel House (by kind permission of Sisters of Mercy, Sunderland) and taught by our staff. Parents will be advised with precise details later this week.
"The Department for Education will be supporting us throughout and will also be assisting with longer-term remediation measures so that we can bring all pupils back into school once we are fully confident it is safe to do so.
"The education and safety of our pupils and staff remains paramount. We would like to thank our pupils, parents and staff for their continued patience and support."
St Benet's Catholic Primary School, Ouston, County Durham
Also part of the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, it has been confirmed that St Benet's will be closed for the first week of September.
The trust says it is 'working hard to liaise with both the DfE and the affected school teams to ensure remedial arrangements are put in place as soon as is possible in order to minimise disruption to our children’s education".
St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Harlow Green, Gateshead
Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust also confirmed that St Anne's Catholic Primary School in Gateshead has been affected and will not reopen during the first week of September.
Scalby School, Scarborough
North Yorkshire Council said Scalby School in Scarborough had been asked to close, but was the only one of its schools affected.
The council’s director of children and young people’s services, Stuart Carlton, said: “The school is required to make suitable arrangements to continue the education of their 1,000 pupils until safety work can be carried out.”
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