Somerset students taught in marquees as concrete closes classrooms

A school has put up temporary marquees after 22 classrooms were closed due to structural weaknesses.

Clevedon School has large beams made of High Alumina Cement (HAC), which have degraded over time and need replacing.

Students are being taught in other parts of the school and work is starting on creating extra marquees.

The issue is unrelated to the national problems with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) and is only a concern if the concrete gets damp.

"It is a completely different situation to RAAC," said Warren Thomas, concrete investigation engineer, Henderson Thomas Associates.

"It can easily be managed if it is kept dry, but if it gets wet it can deteriorate."

Clevedon School was built in 1962, when HAC was at the height of its popularity.

Jim Smith, headmaster of Clevedon School, said: "We can't have students or staff in the building and it means we've lost a total of 22 classrooms and associated offices, which clearly has a significant impact on the running of the school.

"We're having to be creative and move 660 students into different learning spaces, which could be large groups into the hall to even using our squash courts."

HAC was first used as a building material between 1950-1970. Due to its quick-setting properties, it became very popular.

Mr Thomas, who has been testing concrete for 30 years, added: "You have to take a sample to be tested in a lab and categorically determine if it is HAC, and if there has been any reduction in concrete strength."

Liam Fox, the Conservative MP for North Somerset, said it was important for parents not to be unduly concerned.

"Most of the schools are perfectly fine, and certainly in my area are modern, purpose-built buildings," he said.

"If there are problems they have to be dealt with, but what we mustn't do is be irresponsibly panicking parents into thinking that their children are at risk when in the very vast majority of cases there is no risk."

Haygrove School in Bridgwater, Somerset, which was declared unsafe by Government inspectors last month, has staggered the start of term for students and has now completed the installation of temporary rooms.

Students in year eight and year nine will start moving back onto site this week.

Building works to install a two-storey Portakabin for longer-term use have begun, but the school is awaiting an expected date of completion from the Department of Education.

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