Essex headteacher staggered as 22 classrooms are shut down 'we were told on THURSDAY'
Headteacher James Saunders of Honeywood School in Essex
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An Essex headteacher has told that his school was being forced to close just 72 hours before the start of the new term.
James Saunders of Honeywood School in Essex told GB News today he was given just two working days notice of the closure before the school was due to open for the start of the new school year.
Speaking this morning on Breakfast with Eamonn and Ellie, he said: “It was quite last minute - we were informed on Thursday afternoon.
"I was at home at the time so I quickly contacted some of the leadership team and said we've got a bit of a problem here. Can you get in in the morning?
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“And yeah, they were all pretty shocked actually when I when I first informed them. But actually we've spent Friday putting a plan together.
"We've still got a lot of work to do, but the priority was to get some information out to our families as soon as possible, which we which we have done
"The scale of the issue at Honeywood school affected some 22 classrooms making it impossible for the school to open without emergency teaching space.
Mr Saunders added: “At the moment 22 of our classrooms are affected, which are all in our main block, so it's two main corridors and 22 additional office spaces and other rooms.
"That equates to about half of the school. So there's no way we can get all the children into the school without doing something and finding alternative accommodation."
Some 156 schools are affected by RAAC, making them unsafe for children and forcing the closures.
Treasury Minister Gareth Davies confirmed: “School building closures were ordered due to new advice from experts on crumbling concrete that was received last week."