School closes suddenly over building safety fears

A Wallsend school has closed suddenly to pupils following concerns over the safety of the building.

Churchill Community College, on Churchill Street, is currently closed to pupils in Year 7 to 10, with children told they must complete online learning at home until Friday, February 16.

A letter sent out to parents and carers on Wednesday, February 7, said that the closure is to “allow for urgent structural building checks” after “an issue was identified in parts of the school building”.

North Tyneside Council has confirmed that the structural issues are not related to RAAC.

Students in Year 11 through to Year 13 will continue to attend the school and will be based in areas unaffected by the issue.

Vulnerable students, and those with parents who are critical workers, will also be able to attend school.

Headteacher Paul Johnson confirmed that building surveyors have visited the site and that further investigations will take place next week.

Mr Johnson said: “The safety of our pupils and our staff team is always our first priority.”

North Tyneside Council said it is working with the school to tackle the issue and said the closure was essential for the safety of students and staff.

Coun Steven Phillips, Cabinet Member for Inclusion, Employment and Skills at North Tyneside Council, said: “Keeping children educated is a priority for us, and school closures are always a last resort. Our position is clear though - we must do everything we can to ensure everyone is safe while at school.

“I’d like to reassure everyone that these structural issues are not related to RAAC.”