Forres Academy closes due to "new information" on RAAC in school

A school in Moray has closed as a result of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Forres Academy has shut and pupils will move to remote learning on Thursday and Friday of this week while staff put contingency plans in place, Moray Council said.

Almost 40 schools across Scotland have been found to have RAAC.

Other public buildings including three police stations, nine universities and 14 fire stations are also affected.

A spokesperson for Moray Council said: "Due to receiving new information on the Raac at Forres Academy from our structural engineer contractor, the status of the level of risk has been updated.

"There is no indication of deterioration to the Raac panels within the school and the change of level has been dictated by a change of advice and guidance received from the contractors.

"Pupils will move to remote learning on Thursday and Friday this week to allow staff to prepare to implement contingency plans.

"A full update will be provided on Friday to inform parents and pupils of those plans."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton called for a full list of public buildings affected to be published.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said: "The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sounded the alarm about Raac from as early as July of last year but ministers have been happy to sit on their hands.

"From our emergency service and healthcare buildings to our schools, colleges and universities, the extent of this dangerous concrete is far-reaching.

"I want to know why the Scottish Government chose not to act in the face of clear warnings. Ministers must urgently publish a full list of public buildings containing Raac and commit to a national fund that will assist with its removal."

Moray’s SNP MSP Richard Lochhead said: "Whilst the hopefully short closure of Forres Academy will cause unwanted disruption to pupils and families, the safety of the whole school community obviously must come first.

"I’m in touch with Moray Council seeking an urgent update on plans for works in the school and have sought assurances that these works will be completed as quickly as possible."

Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “Parents, teachers and pupils will understandably be deeply concerned by this news.

“The fact that it has now been discovered that Forres Academy is at higher-risk from this dangerous concrete than before means their safety absolutely has to be the top priority.

“People in Forres have known for a long time that the current Academy has been not been fit for purpose, but funding has simply not been forthcoming from the SNP Government.

"SNP ministers must work closely with Moray Council and the schools themselves to fully identify the scale of these problems so this dangerous material can be removed from Forres Academy as quickly as possible."