Council to inspect further schools as a precaution, following ceiling concerns

Norfolk County Council is commissioning inspections of 37 more school buildings, as a precaution, following concerns about damage to some school ceilings.   

The council started inspecting some schools at the beginning of the academic year after it was notified by Synergy Education Trust about issues involving lath and plaster ceilings at some of its schools.   

The material alone is not a cause for concern, but ceilings may be at risk of collapsing if the lath and plaster is damaged.   

Twenty-three schools were identified for urgent visits at the beginning of term - these were schools where the council knew that the material was present. Although the council regularly inspects maintained school buildings, damage can be difficult to spot on a visual inspection in suspended ceilings, so further urgent surveys were requested.   

The checks prompted the closure of Avenue Junior School for three days last week. One class at Parkside School was also closed yesterday.   

The council is now carrying out further visits to schools, which may have the material, based on the age of their buildings. This is an extra precaution.    

Cllr Penny Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Children's Services at Norfolk County Council, said: "The safety of children and staff is always our first priority, so we are now checking any school where we think there could be this material, just to be on the safe side.    

"We know that the material alone doesn't pose a risk, but we want to check for signs of any damage, as we know these ceilings can collapse if there are showing signs of wear and tear.   

"If we find any damage that requires urgent repairs then we will work with schools to minimise disruption and support their contingency planning.   

"This is a similar approach to the one we used when RAAC issues were identified nationally. We're sorry for any inconvenience it might cause to children, parents and schools but we believe it is the right approach to assure ourselves of children's safety."   

The council has risk assessed all of the schools it is responsible for maintaining. Academy trusts are responsible for the maintenance of their buildings, so the council has also written to academy trusts recommending that they check their ceilings. The council has also notified the DfE of the issue.   

The initial 23 schools being inspected were:   

• Avenue Junior School, Norwich  
• Barford Primary School   
• Browick Road Primary And Nursery School, Wymondham  
• Colby Primary School,   
• Ellingham CE VC Primary School, Bungay   
• Frettenham Primary School   
• Hainford VC Primary School   
• Hempnall Primary School   
• Hethersett VC Primary School   
• Holt Community Primary School   
• Horning Community Primary School   
• Magdalen Gates Primary School and Nursery, Norwich   
• Mundesley Infant School   
• Old Catton CE Junior School   
• Pulham CE Primary School   
• Reedham Primary and Nursery School   
• Rocklands Community Primary School   
• Scarning VC Primary School   
• Swanton Morley VC Primary School   
• The Bawburgh School   
• The Clare School, Norwich   
• The Parkside School - Surlingham House, Norwich   
• Woodton Primary School      

The additional schools are:   

• Aldborough Primary School  
• Bacton Primary School  
• Erpingham VC Primary School  
• Langham Village School  
• Ludham Primary School and Nursery  
• Northrepps Primary School  
• Sidestrand Hall School  
• Swanton Abbott Community Primary School  
• Tunstead Primary School  
• Denver CE VC Primary School  
• Great Massingham CE Primary School  
• Harpley CE VC Primary School  
• Terrington St Clement Community School  
• Terrington St John Primary School  
• Tilney St Lawrence Community Primary School  
• Walpole Highway Community Primary School  
• Great Ellingham Primary School  
• Heartwood CE VC Primary and Nursery School  
• Earlham Nursery School  
• Blofield Primary School  
• Buxton Primary School  
• Cantley Primary School  
• Freethorpe Community Primary and Nursery School  
• Hevingham Primary School  
• St Faiths CE VC Primary School  
• Sprowston Junior School  
• Fleggburgh CE Primary School  
• St George's Primary & Nursery School  
• Hemsby Primary School  
• Rollesby Primary School  
• Bressingham Primary School  
• Brooke VC CE Primary School  
• Hingham Primary School  
• Roydon Primary School  
• Saxlingham Nethergate CE VC Primary School  
• Wicklewood Primary School and Nursery  
• Wreningham VC Primary School