Friday 1 September 2023

RAAC affected St Gregory's School desperately searching for portacabins for next week's school start


 St Gregory's Catholic Science College - Kenton

 

inews is reporting that St Gregory's Catholic Science College is desperately trying to get portacabins for Tuesday's return to school after being informed that they are one of the school's affected by the  government announcement on lightweight concrete (reinforced autoclave aerated concrete - RAAC)  in school buildings. 

I understand that it is the Maths Block at the school that is affected.  Brent Coucil said that efforts are being made to prop up the affected areas and children should be able to return on Tuesday as planned.

Help from the Department of Education has not been quick enough, Barry Gardiner, Labour MP for Brent North, told inews.

The MP said the Department of Education should have been working to help the school, and others affected, to put measures in place swiftly over the summer break.

That work is going on tomorrow and over the weekend – but this is what I mean, the department is leaving this absolutely to the last minute and is trying to say it’s the responsibility of the schools.

No it’s not, it’s the responsibility of the department to be helping the schools. The schools have no budget for this.

 He said three other schools in his constituency were suspected of having RAAC – St Joseph’s Primary, Michael Sobell Sinai School and Kingsbury High School. Those schools require survey work to investigate whether they contain the at-risk material.

Wembley Matters has contacted the school for a statement once parents have been informed of arrangements. 

None of the school's named are the direct responsibility of Brent Council being voluntary aided or academies, but the council does have overall responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of the borough's children.



1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Best solution for the school governors is to kick all the pupils and teachers out of the school as soon as possible in the interests of their safety.

Then as at Islamia Primary School in Kilburn Mr. Butt will provide a new site in Brent at taxpayers expense (he says its his legal duty and there is a big park next to the school) and he will of course fund a completely brand new school build with no RAAC!!

The school governors must insist (as at the Islamia School) that the new school and site is handed over to the governors for free for them to run as a faith school.

As we all know there is no discrimination in Brent and everyone of different faiths and none is treated the same by the Council.

Mr. Butt as a Labour politician advocates equality and fairness for all irrespective of faith race ethnic origin etc. it will be no problem therefore for Mr. Butt to treat this faith school the same as Islamia Primary School - and in the interests of pupil safety as well which will attract national attention. (OBE to come).

How fortunate we are to live here under the enlightened and benevolent leadership of Mr. Butt who can be depended on to solve this crisis find a site and build a new school and take our children out of danger.