37 more schools in Norfolk to be inspected over ceiling safety concerns
It's said to be a 'precaution'
Norfolk County Council says it will be commissioning inspections of 37 more schools, following concerns about damage to some ceilings.
The council started inspecting some schools at the beginning of the academic year after it was notified by Synergy Education Trust about issues involving lath and plaster ceilings at some of its schools.
The material alone is not a cause for concern, but ceilings may be at risk of collapsing if the lath and plaster is damaged.
Twenty-three schools were identified for urgent visits at the beginning of term – these were schools where the council knew that the material was present.
The checks prompted the closure of Avenue Junior School for three days last week. One class at Parkside School was also closed yesterday.
The council is now carrying out visits to more schools, which may have the material, based on the age of their buildings.
It says this is an extra precaution.
“The safety of children and staff is always our first priority"
Cllr Penny Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Norfolk County Council, said: “The safety of children and staff is always our first priority, so we are now checking any school where we think there could be this material, just to be on the safe side.
“We know that the material alone doesn’t pose a risk, but we want to check for signs of any damage, as we know these ceilings can collapse if there are showing signs of wear and tear.
“If we find any damage that requires urgent repairs then we will work with schools to minimise disruption and support their contingency planning.
“This is a similar approach to the one we used when RAAC issues were identified nationally. We’re sorry for any inconvenience it might cause to children, parents and schools but we believe it is the right approach to assure ourselves of children’s safety.”
The 37 new schools being inspected:
Aldborough Primary School
Bacton Primary School
Erpingham VC Primary School
Langham Village School
Ludham Primary School and Nursery
Northrepps Primary School
Sidestrand Hall School
Swanton Abbott Community Primary School
Tunstead Primary School
Denver CE VC Primary School
Great Massingham CE Primary School
Harpley CE VC Primary School
Terrington St. Clement Community School
Terrington St. John Primary School
Tilney St. Lawrence Community Primary School
Walpole Highway Community Primary School
Great Ellingham Primary School
Heartwood CE VC Primary and Nursery School
Earlham Nursery School
Blofield Primary School
Buxton Primary School
Cantley Primary School
Freethorpe Community Primary and Nursery School
Hevingham Primary School
St. Faiths CE VC Primary School
Sprowston Junior School
Fleggburgh CE Primary School
St. George’s Primary & Nursery School
Hemsby Primary School
Rollesby Primary School
Bressingham Primary School
Brooke VC CE Primary School
Hingham Primary School
Roydon Primary School
Saxlingham Nethergate CE VC Primary School
Wicklewood Primary School And Nursery
Wreningham VC Primary School
The initial 23 schools inspected:
Avenue Junior School, Norwich
Barford Primary School
Browick Road Primary And Nursery School, Wymondham
Colby Primary School,
Ellingham CE VC Primary School, Bungay
Frettenham Primary School
Hainford VC Primary School
Hempnall Primary School
Hethersett VC Primary School
Holt Community Primary School
Horning Community Primary School
Magdalen Gates Primary School and Nursery, Norwich
Mundesley Infant School
Old Catton CE Junior School
Pulham CE Primary School
Reedham Primary and Nursery School
Rocklands Community Primary School
Scarning VC Primary School
Swanton Morley VC Primary School
The Bawburgh School
The Clare School, Norwich
The Parkside School - Surlingham House, Norwich