All Key Stage 2 students from Corpus Christi Catholic School will attend classes at St Martin-in-the-Fields Girls School whilst further work is undertaken to assess the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) found in the roof.
The Department for Educations (DfE) has instructed Schools across England be inspected for RAAC due to its structural deficiencies and questions around its durability. RAAC is a lightweight form of concrete used in roof, floor, cladding and wall construction in the UK from the mid-1950s to the mid-1980.
The move will begin on Thursday 24 August in time for the children to begin their new school year on 4 September.
Councillor Ben Kind, Cabinet Member for Children and Families said: “Lambeth Council is committed to ensuring the safety of pupils at Corpus Christi and we are grateful to the school for working with us as we help relocate them temporarily to a new site and to the parents of pupils at the school for their support and understanding as we all work to minimise disruption. By taking this step the school can continue to ensure the pupils well-being while further work is done to assess the extent to any problems with the materials used when the school was built.
Rest assured that Lambeth Council has been working together with the Department for Education and Corpus Christi school to ensure a coordinated approach is taken to ensure the impact on learning is minimised. We are aware that the DfE is undertaking a wider assessment of the use of this type of concrete in schools across England and we will continue to work with them in that regard. I encourage parents of pupils at Corpus Christi School who have further queries to directly contact the school”
To prevent further disruptions at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Corpus Christi students have been given a separate entrance on Trinity Rise, separate lunchtimes, and access to the outside space has been arranged. Extra meals have also been planned through Corpus Christi’s supplier, Harrisons. The proximity of St Martin-in-the-Fields school to Corpus Christi should also have minimal disruption on families’ transport arrangements.
The council will continue to engage with all parties and review what additional support it can provide during the transitionary period and subject to how long the arrangements need to be in place.
The council is working closely with schools and the DfE to make sure all RAAC surveys have been completed and any potential risks to Lambeth schools are identified and fully assessed so that any appropriate mitigation measures can be put in place.
