Jesmond Park Academy: Damaged school remains closed

Jesmond Park Academy has been closed since 18 October

A school damaged in Storm Babet will remain closed next week.

Jesmond Park Academy shut its doors on 18 October after its roof was damaged in strong winds.

Students have been left studying at home and parents have yet to be given a date when it will reopen.

Gosforth Group, which runs the school, said parents should "plan for the school being closed on Monday 6 November".

An inspection of the roof was carried out this week, over half term, and the school is now awaiting the final reports.

Gosforth Group said: "Once we have these and they have been scrutinised by our independent structural engineer and our legal advisors, we will be able to determine a possible date for reopening the school."

It added it was working with Newcastle City Council and the Department for Education to "plan for contingencies".

Home learning

Principal Steve Campbell has updated parents online but this has often involved stating in the evening whether the school will be open the next day.

Jon Bryan, whose two teenage daughters attend the academy, said parents were growing frustrated with the last-minute updates.

He said: "You can't make any plans and you are worried about what it means for you kids' education."

Children are being taught from home using an online system.

One parent, who asked not to be named, said: "We are back to home learning with no sign of an end, which is really disappointing.

"School have done brilliantly to put online lessons in place so quickly, but its not the same as being in the classroom."