RAAC update for three North East schools
Education bosses responsible for three North East schools closed due to the concrete crisis are still searching for alternative teaching accommodation.
The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust issued an update on Wednesday afternoon, confirming that it had “visited numerous potential sites and are reviewing multiple different accommodation options” for its schools containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
St Leonard’s comprehensive in Durham, St Anne’s Primary in Gateshead, and St Benet’s Primary in Ouston were all told not to reopen for the new term due to the presence of RAAC in their roofs, putting them among more than 100 nationwide that were ordered to either fully or partially shut due to fears about the collapse-prone material.
The scandal has sent shockwaves through the country’s education system and left the affected schools scrambling to find somewhere to restart classes.
The Bishop Wilkinson trust announced that it hopes to have installed temporary teaching facilities on the grounds of both St Anne’s, in Harlow Green, and St Benet’s within the next two weeks – with hopes that, in the medium to long term, a “fully functioning substantial structure” can be found to accommodate the entire school.
Families were issued a letter last Friday offering opportunities for face-to-face contact between teachers and pupils, including teaching sessions and educational visits.
At St Leonard’s, parts of the building not affected by RAAC are being opened for some in-person learning for students to supplement online lessons.
The trust said it was “working to secure temporary teaching accommodation to get all students back to face-to-face teaching as soon as possible”.
It added: “Looking at the medium to long term, we are currently exploring a hybrid model which will allow us to use the safe parts of the existing building alongside a fully functioning substantial structure, which together will accommodate the whole school. We appreciate that some parents may have been concerned about the long-term plan for the three schools.
“We hope that this reassures our school communities and allays any concerns regarding the importance the Trust places on the education of our children. We are looking forward to welcoming them all back to face-to-face education in the very near future.”
The Bishop Wilkinson trust also runs St Thomas More Catholic High School in Blaydon, which is open to all pupils but has its library shut due to the discovery of RAAC there.
Bishop Wilkinson trust CEO, Nick Hurn OBE, added: “I’d like to thank staff, pupils, parents and carers for all their support at this incredibly challenging time. We understand the disruption this is causing and appreciate your continued frustration and concerns. I want to assure you all that Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust remains dedicated to the safety and well-being of its staff and students, and to delivering the highest standard of education possible during these unprecedented circumstances.”
Full list of North East schools where RAAC has been confirmed
The following list is arranged alphabetically and reads, from left to right: name of school; type of action taken; primary or secondary school; type of school.
Carmel College, Darlington – All pupils in face-to-face education; Secondary; Academy converter
Ferryhill School, County Durham – Start of Term Delayed; Secondary; Academy converter
St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Harlow Green – Fully remote learning; Primary; Academy converter
St Bede’s Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College, Peterlee – Mix of face-to-face and remote arrangements; Secondary; Academy converter
St Benet’s Catholic Primary School, Ouston – Fully remote learning; Primary; Academy converter
St Columba’s Catholic Primary School, Wallsend – All pupils in face-to-face education; Primary; Academy converter
St James’ Catholic Primary School, Hebburn – Mix of face-to-face and remote arrangements; Primary; Academy converter
St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland – Mix of face-to-face and remote arrangements; Primary; Academy converter
St John Vianney Catholic Primary School, West Denton – All pupils in face-to-face education; Primary; Academy converter
St Leonard’s Catholic School, Durham – Fully remote learning; Secondary; Academy converter
St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Darlington – Start of Term Delayed; Primary; Academy converter
St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon – All pupils in face-to-face education; Secondary; Academy converter