The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Funding call for schools in concrete ‘concerns’
CALLS have been made for the Department for Education to “urgently” confirm it will cover the costs of four schools in North Tyneside afflicted by concrete concerns.
Deputy Mayor of North Tyneside Carl Johnson has called for the Department for Education (DFE) to cover council spending on temporary measures at four schools impacted by ‘weak’ concrete worries due to a construction method referred to as ‘Hollow Concrete Block and Plank.’
The Deputy Mayor has also called on the DFE to fund the “long-term solution” which may be required at the schools; Fordley Primary School, in Annitsford, Churchill Community College in Wallsend, Hazlewood Primary in Wideopen, and Grasmere Academy in Killingworth.
In December 2023, a small piece of concrete block fell from the ceiling of Fordley Primary School.
This prompted an investigation whereupon the three other schools were identified for further investigation. Some of the 1,700 pupils affected were taught at home while others were moved to other schools.
The current measures in place at Fordley Primary include the expected delivery of temporary classrooms after the Easter holidays. Year 7 pupils at Churchill Community College are using part of Monkseaton High School and some Year 8 teaching groups are using part of Norham High.
Coaches have been provided for pupils travelling to Monkseaton or Norham. Pupils at Hazlewood Primary are accommodated in the non-affected part of the school through a temporary heated marquee. Some pupils are also receiving face-to-face learning in the local Air Cadets and Wideopen Library buildings.
The local authority is also replacing temporary toilet facilities at Hazlewood Primary after the initial units provided by its supplier “were far below” the council’s expectations.
All pupils at Grasmere Academy have returned to face-to-face learning in an unaffected single-storey building last Monday.
Deputy Mayor Carl Johnson said: “I want to thank the entire school community in these areas for their understanding and work on this extraordinarily difficult situation.
“Conservative ministers and the Department for Education urgently need to confirm that they will cover the costs of the temporary arrangements and confirm they will work with and fund the council and schools on the long-term solution to get our children a permanent solution to getting back in the classroom.”
An initial report from structural engineering firm Narro has been completed for Fordley Primary and identified a “historical, isolated issue connected to the mixture of the concrete used in some of the blocks when the school was constructed”. Where part of schools remain open they are safe and not affected by the mix.
A Department for Education Spokesperson said: ““When we are alerted to safety issues that cannot be managed within local resources, as is the case in North Tyneside, we consider additional support on a case-by-case basis. All pupils affected remain in face-to-face education and we are working closely with North Tyneside council to support them.”