Pupils at Our Lady’s Primary in Perth may not return to classrooms this term after they were closed amidst safety fears.
Nursery and primary pupils are now taking lessons within unconventional rooms within the school and elsewhere in the city while repairs are carried out on the building.
Regular checks are carried out on the structure of the region’s schools and education chiefs responded swiftly to concerns over the Letham school’s classroom block.
It is thought defects were discovered within the ceiling of one or more classrooms, leading to precautionary measures being taken.
Parents were swiftly written to upon discovery of faults and pupils immediately moved from classrooms to alternative teaching areas.
Older pupils have been found a new home at St John’s RC Academy on the North Inch Community Campus.
Nursery and P1-3 youngsters, meanwhile, have been temporarily accommodated within other parts of their school.
Remedial works are expected to take up to three weeks, meaning that some pupils may not return before the end of term.
The council has stressed that there was no danger to pupils and that the decision to close classrooms had been taken as “a precaution”.
A spokeswoman said: “The assessment of Our Lady’s Primary School showed that repairs were required within the main classroom block of the school.
“The other areas of the school are not affected by this.
“Repair works are under way, progressing well, and are expected to take two to three weeks.
“Given this, and to maintain a high quality learning environment for all pupils, we have made arrangements for pupils from P4-P7 to be decanted to accommodation within North Inch Community Campus.
“Nursery and P1-P3 classes can be accommodated within other areas of the Our Lady’s building.”
Depute Provost Willie Wilson said senior pupils were being bussed to St John’s RC Academy at council expense to minimise disruption to families.
School estates under the microscope
The condition of Scotland’s schools has been in spotlight ever since two high profile cases in Edinburgh.
In 2014, a 12-year-old girl died after a changing room wall collapsed on top of her at Liberton High School.
Then in 2016 an exterior wall collapsed at the capital’s Oxgangs Primary, leading to the closure of 17 city schools amidst concerns over their construction.
Defects were subsequently found within schools in 15 council areas, including Dundee and Fife, though Perth and Kinross’ school estate was given a clean bill of health.
The local authority reported at the time that all schools had been “recently assessed” and were described as being in a “good or satisfactory condition”.
Perth and Kinross Council undertakes a “rolling programme of regular condition surveys”.
