Pupils to leave tents as school building approved

Pupils will soon be able to move out of being taught in tents after a new school building was approved.

Children at Clevedon School had to be taught in two marquees since 2023, after the discovery of high alumina cement concrete (HACC) caused 22 classrooms to shut.

Plans to build a new school building have now been approved by North Somerset Council's planning committee on 14 May.

One parent wrote on the planning website: "This is desperately needed so that children don't have to be educated in tents anymore. They are freezing in the winter, sweltering in the summer and not sound proof so lessons are disrupted by noise from the next classroom."

HACC is a weakness in concrete that can lead to sudden and catastrophic collapse.

The planning application for the new building was submitted and funded by the Department of Education.

Planning committee member Hannah Young said approving the plans was "critical".

Another member, Clare Hunt, added: "Everybody has really done their best to keep the school going throughout these circumstances and I really hope that this will be a good intermediate solution to these problems and in the end they will get the school they deserve."

However, there were people objecting to the plans on the council's planning portal, saying they were "gutted" that the plans will mean the loss of the school's long jump and running track.

One parent of children who compete in athletics said: "With this facility gone, where do our children - the next Olympic athletes - train?"

Tom Quill, speaking for the plans in front of the council meeting, said the long jump and track was the "only appropriate location" and other locations, like the football pitches, was "used more".

Planning permission for a replacement track will be submitted within three months.

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