A Wallsend primary school troubled with structural problems has teamed up with other schools in its trust so face-to-face learning can continue.
St Columba's Primary Catholic School has been closed since Monday, June 12, following the discovery of 'Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete' (RAAC) in its buildings and ceiling panels. RAAC is not an immediate health risk but only has a useful service life of around 30 years.
An email sent to parents from the school states: "Following visits from specialist surveyors we now have a clearer understanding of how we can plan for the rest of this term and September 2023 onwards.
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"We have been reassured that we will be able to make our school building fully safe within weeks".
From Monday, June 19, some pupils will attend St Aidan's Primary School in Wallsend. Others will attend St Thomas More in North Shields. Both schools, along with St Columba's are part of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust.
Nursery and reception children can continue to attend St Columba's but only in the activity centre where there is no RAAC present. These arrangements will be in place, according to the school, until at least Friday, June 30.
Claire Garbutt, the headteacher of St Columba's, wrote to parents and said: "All year groups will have their own classroom at St Aidan’s or St Thomas More and will be taught by their current class teacher and supported by staff from St Columba’s who they are familiar with. Our pupils will not be educated alongside the other children from these schools.
"We have arranged for buses/coaches to transport all pupils from our site to St Aidan’s and St Thomas More every day. As you will appreciate, securing transport for the whole school has been incredibly difficult when coach and bus companies are committed to other contracts.
"Therefore, the timings of pick up and drop off will have to be slightly adjusted. We appreciate that these changes are unexpected.
"However, we would like to reassure parents that this is the best temporary solution which allows for children to be educated face-to-face and keeps children with their own teachers and their friends.
"Thank you for your support and understanding."
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