Plans update is on way for Willowbank

Pupils have been moved out of a Coatbridge school for youngsters with additional support needs as roof repair issues are addressed.

Willowbank School’s building on Bank Street has not been in use since the start of the academic year, and no completion date for the work has yet been identified.

The 50 pupils on the roll have now all been decanted to additional premises at Cardinal Newman High in Bellshill, where the Coatbridge school already had an existing annexe.

North Lanarkshire Council officials say families will be updated on “future plans” for the school later this month.

The required work on the Willowbank building was identified via a routine inspection during the summer holidays.

A council spokesperson told the Advertiser: “Our experts identified that further tests were necessary on an area of the roof.

“In order to carry this out, we were advised that we had to move all the children out of the school as an interim measure; a date for completion has not yet been reached.

“Our priority is always to deliver a firstclass education for pupils, and an enclosed space within Cardinal Newman High was identified; it has its own entrance and exit and will continue to function completely independently from the main school.”

Willowbank serves secondary-aged pupils with additional needs such as behavioural and emotional support, with pupils travelling from across the North Lanarkshire authority area.The council spokesperson added: “We have also worked with colleagues in our transport section to ensure that all existing arrangements remain in place and are diverted accordingly.

“We will be informing parents of our future plans after the October holidays.”

Please get in touch if your child has been adversely affected by this move. Contact news@airdrieandcoatbridgeadvertiser.co.uk