Dozens of classrooms close at North Somerset school over safety fears

It's because of a type of concrete known as HACC - with the issues not related to the national RAAC crisis

Author: Oliver MorganPublished 19th Sep 2023
Last updated 19th Sep 2023

A school in north Somerset has had to close 22 classrooms because of safety issues with a type of concrete known as HACC.

It's not related to the national RAAC crisis, with Clevedon School saying it follows a rolling inspection of the school estate.

Plans are being drawn up to made a so-called 'learning village' on the site while they work out more long term solutions to repair the structural weaknesses inside the 60-year-old main tower block and linked classrooms.

The school say the problem is because of a changing chemical composition in beams made of High Alumina Cement Concrete (HACC).

The weakening HACC has meant a total of 22 classrooms, offices and storage space have been taken out of use - which represents over a quarter of the buildings space at the school, which has about 1350 students aged 11 to 18.

They say they're taking 'creative measures' to make sure all students are able to be on site every way - with actions being taken including multiple group teaching in large spaces, using offices as classrooms and making the most of the wider school environment.

Headteacher Jim Smith said: “I would like to take this opportunity to praise our school community for the way they have approached their learning this week. In difficult times they have, in the spirit of our school motto, been kind and brilliant.”

Chief Executive Officer Andrea Arlidge added: “Futura Learning Partnership and the school are working with the Department for Education, North Somerset Council and industry experts to make sure we make the best decisions for our staff and students about both short and long-term solutions.”

The school say staff are working hard to pursue options to restore classroom capacity and other facilities as soon as possible.

An extra report looking into remedial and long-term solutions to the structural issue will come forward soon, which the school say will help them to inform decisions as to the most appropriate way forward.

In connection with RAAC, the school has confirmed they had a separate survey by engineers in May 2023 and received the all-clear.

Read more: RAAC concrete discovered in Somerset - as MP calls for schools to get in touch

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.