Raac school 'propped up' so pupils can return

Classrooms have been made safe with a mixture of vertical and horizontal props

Pupils and staff at a school found to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) have been allowed back into the building after it was made safe.

St Edward's Catholic Voluntary Academy in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, was closed in September after Raac was found during a survey.

Pupils in Years 3 to 6 had to move temporarily to their partner secondary school, Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary Academy in Burton-upon-Trent.

A mix of horizontal and vertical props have now been put up across the school to reinforce the ceiling.

Head teacher Kay Methven said: "Although they don't look brilliant, I know they are doing a job they need to do."

Head teacher Kay Methven is relieved everyone is back under one roof

The survey found Raac in 80% of the school including four classrooms, internal walkways, toilets, the hall and the staffroom.

While the older children were moved to the school in Burton, children in nursery to Year 2 were able to be safely accommodated at St Edward's.

Finley, aged nine, said it was "exciting" to be back because "we get to see our siblings".

Aoife, also aged nine, added: "It's really good because we had to come here and get on a coach and get up really, really early so we could get to Robert Sutton."

Adjustments have been made so that the inside of the building is safe

The school is one of 119 with Raac which have been placed on the government's school rebuilding programme, which means it has been deemed eligible to have one or more blocks rebuilt or refurbished.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: "We are committed to removing Raac within schools in a timely manner and are working with responsible bodies to work as quickly as possible."