"Higher level" RAAC risk causes two-day closure of Forres Academy

FORRES Academy will be shuttered for the rest of the week after engineers found that the RAAC-hit school is facing "a higher level of risk" than first thought.

Parents were told about the closure at 4.10pm today (September 13), in a message from Head Teacher Jan Sinclair which warned that "swift action" is due.

Pupils have been asked to stay at home, while staff will still be expected to attend.

Earlier this week, an update confirmed that work had started on removing RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete), from Science and Art and Design areas at the school.

Affected classrooms were locked off from pupils and staff – but engineers working on the repairs found that the concrete poses a "higher level of risk".

In her letter, head teacher, Mrs Jan Sinclair, said: "We have received new information today from the structural engineers, Fairhurst, whilst undertaking the current remedial work regarding RAAC at the school which now appears to indicate a higher level of risk.

"Due to this new information and in order to take swift action where this is deemed necessary, the school will be closed to pupils on Thursday and Friday to allow time to review our plans working alongside colleagues in Moray Council.

"Where possible, remote learning will be provided with further detail on this remote learning tomorrow and we will keep you updated regarding plans for next week."

RAAC was often used in flat-roofed buildings built between the 1950s and 1990s.

The material, which can experience "sudden collapse" with "very little warning" according to a 2019 safety alert, became prominent following a 2018 school collapse in Kent.

Forres Academy is the only school in Moray to include the material.

A Moray Council spokesperson said: "Due to receiving new information on the RAAC at Forres Academy from our Structural Engineer contractor, the status of the level of risk has been updated.

"There is no indication of deterioration to the RAAC panels within the school and the change of level has been dictated by a change of advice and guidance received from the contractors.

"Pupils will move to remote learning on Thursday and Friday this week to allow staff to prepare to implement contingency plans.

"A full update will be provided on Friday to inform parents and pupils of those plans."

Planned renovation work will entail the design and installation of steel support beams to underpin potentially damaged concrete.

A previous letter sent out to parents and carers of pupils at Forres Academy stated: "The council continues to follow current guidance and best practice issued by the Institution of Structural Engineers and the Scottish Government, which means only closing areas of high risk."

Moray MP Douglas Ross said those involved in the school would be "deeply concerned".

“Parents, teachers and pupils will understandably be deeply concerned by this news," he said.

“The fact that it has now been discovered that Forres Academy is at higher-risk from this dangerous concrete than before means their safety absolutely has to be the top priority.

“People in Forres have known for a long time that the current Academy has been not been fit for purpose, but funding has simply not been forthcoming from the SNP Government.

“SNP ministers must work closely with Moray Council and the schools themselves to fully identify the scale of these problems so this dangerous material can be removed from Forres Academy as quickly as possible.”

Moray's MSP Richard Lochhead said: “Whilst the hopefully short closure of Forres Academy will cause unwanted disruption to pupils and families, the safety of the whole school community obviously must come first.

“I’m in touch with Moray Council seeking an urgent update on plans for works in the school and have sought assurances that these works will be completed as quickly as possible.”