Leicester: Temporary school to open after Raac concrete closure

The school has about 500 pupils, who have had to be housed on other sites nearby

A school forced to close because of structural safety concerns is preparing to reunite pupils in a new temporary building.

Children at Mayflower Primary School, in Leicester, have been taught at multiple locations since April, when it was shut with 24 hours' notice.

The closure followed the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in the 1950s-built school roof.

A replacement modular building is now nearing completion.

The school's bike shelter has been moved to the temporary site

Mayflower's head teacher Luke Whitney said it was hoped the school's 500 pupils would be able to move into it on 28 February, after the half-term break.

"We're really excited that we are close to getting our whole school community back together in one place after such a long time," he said.

"It has been a challenge [to be apart] with my team split between different sites and the kids feel it too.

"We've had brothers and sisters in different year groups being taught in different locations when we'd want them together.

"We are getting an excellent quality temporary building and we are all looking forward to moving in."

The temporary school is being installed on the Ethel Road playing fields, near to Mayflower, by contractors appointed by the Department for Education (DfE).

A replacement modular building for the school is nearing completion

A planning application has been lodged seeking permission to keep the temporary building for four years.

Mr Whitney said the long-term future of the 1953-built school was still to be decided.

"It will be for the DfE to decide whether it is a case of repair or rebuild," he said.

"If you were to push me for a preference, I'd like a new 21st Century eco-school."

A DfE spokesperson added: "We are working closely with all affected schools, including Mayflower Primary, to understand and assess their individual requirements.

"We have committed to fund the removal of Raac from our schools either through grants, or through our School Rebuilding Programme and we will inform schools as soon as possible once our assessments have concluded."