School forced to move pupils to temporary site after ‘deteriorated’ concrete found in building

A school has been forced to move to a new site following the discovery of “deteriorated” concrete in one of its buildings.

The Corpus Christi Catholic School in Trent Road, Brixton, is a primary school academy for 420 pupils, aged three to 11 years old.

The school said a problem has been discovered on its junior site, which was built using a form of lightweight concrete known as Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), that is beginning to show signs of deterioration.

There has been a problem around some schools and public buildings built 1950s to 1980s using RAAC and all schools are being inspected for it.

At Corpus Christi, RAAC was located in the roof of part of the school on the junior site. 

The school said it has decided after taking professional advice to relocate students from the Trent Road site to minimise disruption from the necessary structural work that must be undertaken in the next few months. 

The students will be temporarily based at St Martin In The Field Girls School in Tulse Hill.

A spokeswoman for the school said that the defect had been “found recently” but was not at liberty to say exactly when.

The school added that it is working closely with the Archdiocese of Southwark, Lambeth council and the Department for Education to get help from specialist engineers to resolve the issue.

Mrs J Connery and Mr Robert Coyle, co-head teachers at the school, said: “During this process we have looked at several different options, our priorities were as follows: ensuring the safety and education for all our children.

“Ensuring the continuation of face-to-face teaching and learning. Ensuring all our junior children could be accommodated on one site where possible.

“Ensuring the school day can run as smoothly as possible. Ensuring the extended day offer is minimally impacted where possible.

“Not all the options available to us were able to deliver on the above by the beginning of term.

“We are therefore extremely grateful to Lambeth Local Authority and to the board of St Martin In The Field Girls School who are willing to accommodate us on a temporary basis within two self-contained blocks where we will have our own pedestrianised entrance on Trinity Rise.

“Staff at school are planning to relocate as soon as possible so that there is a welcoming start to the beginning of term but as always, the school prioritises the safety and education of the children first.

“lt is a challenge to all in the school community, but the school has welcomed the support it has received.”

Pictured top: Entrance to Corpus Christi school in Trent Road (Picture: Corpus Christi)