Hundreds of schools across the country could be impacted by the changes (Picture: Shutterstock / PeopleImages.com – Yuri A)
Schools in England must immediately shut buildings made with a type of concrete that is prone to collapse, the government is expected to announce.
Extra measures are set to be put in place, with some schools having to relocate children to other teaching spaces.
More than 100 schools are said to have been contacted before the start of new term, with it being reported that around 104 schools may have to close.
Two schools in Bradford have already been partially closed on the eve of the new term after surveys found weak concrete in the buildings.
Tables and chairs which fell through the collapsed ceiling at Rosemead Prep School (Picture: HSE)
Pupils at Crossflatts Primary School and Eldwick Primary School will be moved to ‘safe’ areas, after the problem came to light.
Bradford Council said temporary classrooms would be set up in the coming weeks and months.
The council has carried out detailed surveys at 45 schools to determine whether reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was used in their construction.
The lightweight material was used to construct many civic buildings from the 1950s to the 1990s, before being found to deteriorate over time.
It has an estimated lifespan of around 30 years.
Sue Lowndes, Bradford Council’s assistant director schools and learning, said: ‘We are putting plans in place for those two schools to make sure no one is put at risk and also to minimise any disruption to children’s education.
‘We know how important it is to make sure children can continue at school. Headteachers at the affected schools are working with parents and staff so we can keep them informed of the changes that are being put in place.’
Earlier this week a private prep school was fined £80,000 after a classroom ceiling collapsed on top of a group of seven and eight-year-old children.
Year 3 pupils at Rosemead Preparatory School in Dulwich, south London, were in the middle of a handwriting lesson when the roof caved in above their heads on November 15, 2021.
Photo issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of a ceiling that collapsed during a Year 3 class at Rosemead Preparatory School in south London (Picture: PA)
Several of the youngsters along with their teacher were taken to hospital with various injuries – including fractured limbs, cuts and concussion – when tables and chairs fell from the attic above.
Safety measures include propping up ceilings in buildings made with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
The Department for Education (DfE) has not given a timeline for replacing the RAAC, but school leaders have called for an ‘urgent plan’ to fix buildings.
A report in June assessed the risk of injury or death from a school building collapse as ‘very likely and critical’.
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the NAHT, the union representing school leaders told the Guardian: ‘NAHT has repeatedly raised concerns about these buildings for a long time now, so while this news is shocking, sadly it is not hugely surprising.
‘What we are seeing here are the very real consequences of a decade of swingeing cuts to spending on school buildings.
‘The government is right to put the safety of pupils and staff first – if the safety of buildings cannot be guaranteed, there is no choice but to close them so urgent building work can take place.
‘But there is no escaping the fact that the timing of this couldn’t be worse, with children due to return from the summer holidays next week.
‘This will put school leaders under tremendous pressure as they have to scramble to organise alternative accommodation.’
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Some schools will shut immediately.
