Primary school evacuated after ceiling collapse.

No pupils injured but school closed until at least Monday

A Fife primary school was evacuated yesterday after a ceiling collapsed in a classroom.

Assurances are now being sought about school maintenance after the incident at Falkland primary.

It is believed the ceiling collapsed after a water tank burst, although investigations are still ongoing.

The drama resulted in all the children and staff being moved to the village hall to complete the day’s lessons.

And it will be Monday at the earliest before pupils are allowed to return to the school.

Fife councillor David MacDiarmid, who represents the Falkland ward, first became aware of the incident when his four–year-old grandson, who is in primary one, came home from school.

Mr MacDiarmid told The Courier: “My concerns are was this rupture due to lack of maintenance and how safe were our kids?

“I accept these things can happen, but I’ve raised concerns about school maintenance budgets across Fife in the past, and want assurances that this water tank was not down to neglect.

“The main thing is that no pupils or staff were injured, but it could have been much worse.”

Councillor MacDiarmid has asked for access to the school today to see the damage for himself.

Fife Council’s education officer Ralph Donaldson said: “All children and staff were evacuated from the school in safety and were accommodated in the village hall during the latter part of the afternoon.

“The initial cause of the water tank burst is being investigated and I can’t be definitive about the reason just yet.

“I was made aware from the first assessments of the water burst that the level of water is high and, although the electricity was turned off immediately, it is still to be determined the extent of any damage to electrical circuits, etc.

“Whilst this is being carried out, we did not want to have any children or staff put at risk and will be making decisions about the children’s return to school next week during the course of Thursday, based on assessments from our professionals on site.

“Staff will base themselves at Castlehill primary during Thursday and Friday and will be planning for the children’s return to Falkland next week.”

Mr Donaldson added: “I can assure you that children will not return to Falkland until all safety concerns have been addressed.”

The main thing is that no pupils or staff were injured, but it could have been much worse. COUNCILLOR DAVID MACDIARMID