Bradford pupils face disruption as school buildings to shut

Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), already detected in Crossflatts Primary School and Eldwick Primary School, has been confirmed at more than 100 schools across the UK.

Tonight the Government told head teachers that they cannot use the buildings until safety measures have been oput in place - leaving many scrambling to find temporary classrooms less than a week before the new term.

Work appears to be underway at Crossflatts Primary School (Image: Newsquest, Mike Simmonds)

RAAC is a type of construction material widely used in buildings from the 1950s to the 1990s.

In recent years there have been growing concerns that the material is now beyond its limit.

The Department for Education (DfE) announced this evening that any space or area in schools, colleges or nurseries, with confirmed RAAC should no longer be open without "mitigations" in place.

The issue was raised yesterday when the T&A revealed how Crossflatts and Eldwick had been affected.

Interim and long-term alteration works are being carried out to ensure children can be accommodated on the two sites, according to Bradford Council.

Work underway at Crossflatts Primary School, pictured (Image: Newsquest)

In a statement the authority revealed: “At least eight teaching spaces across both sites have been lost, alongside other staffing facilities across both sites and the loss of the kitchen at Crossflatts.”

Access to areas of the schools where RAAC is present is “prohibited” and only “qualified concrete specialists” will be allowed to enter those spaces.

The council said interim alterations to safe areas will be finished by Sunday.

But although “temporary classrooms” on both school sites have been ordered they aren't due to arrive arrive for 8-10 weeks at Crossflatts and 14-16 weeks at Eldwick. 

However, contractors were seen erecting some temporary buildings at Crossflatts today.

Sue Lowndes, assistant director of schools & learning for Bradford Council, thanked headteachers, school and council staff for their work in ensuring schools are safe and “able to open in September”.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

Nationally, more than 100 schools, colleges and nurseries have been told to shut buildings made from RAAC until safety work is done.

In June, the National Audit Office warned that the risk of injury or death from a school building collapse was said to be "very likely and critical" after it highlighted concerns over RAAC.

Shazad Ismail's son, Yahya, is about to go into Year 5 at Crossflatts. He told the BBC: "We're devastated. The head teacher sent a letter... it's going to widely affect a lot of children."