Wednesbury school affected by crumble-risk concrete warns parents of potential disruption to start of new academic year
A school in Wednesbury has warned parents about potential disruption to the start of the new academic year after a survey revealed a building made with aerated concrete that is liable to sudden collapse.
Yesterday, it was revealed that more than 150 schools, nurseries and colleges in England had been told by the Government to close classrooms and other buildings that contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
RAAC is a lightweight building material used up to the mid-1980s but has since been assessed to be at risk of collapse.
Wood Green Academy has announced that an initial survey of the school in Wood Green Road during the summer found RAAC in part of Weston block.
In a letter to parents and carers, headteacher James Topham said a further more intrusive survey then took place which led to the immediate closure of that part of the site for safety reasons until remedial work has taken place.
Students were expected to return to school on Wednesday, with some classrooms closed until October, but the letter said the policy change announced by the Department for Education (DfE) "has significantly increased the likelihood of disruption to the start of the new academic year whilst further investigative work takes place".
