School Would Have Received Aid Sooner If Located in Surrey, Claims Suggest

Pupils whose school was closed because the building was unsafe are being let down by the government, a union has said.

Pupils from Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Barrow, Cumbria, had to evacuate the premises in January 2023 and have been receiving their education at various alternative sites ever since.

The National Education Union President Daniel Kebede stated: "Were this a school located in affluent Surrey, measures would have been implemented far more rapidly."

The Department for Education (DfE) stated that they are assisting the school through financial support and provisional measures to ensure the children receive a "secure and appropriate education."

Mr. Kebede went to the school and stated that the students lack a building "which they truly merit."

The prime minister visited Barrow [on Thursday], and it’s truly disappointing that he didn’t stop by the school during his trip. What I saw was remarkable staff members, an inspiring headteacher, and wonderful students who are unfortunately let down entirely by the government,” he stated.

'Disruptive to learning'

Since the school closed some of the children have had to be picked up by Coach daily for St Bernard's High School In the town, some students receive their education in Portakabins located within the Sacred Heart's playground area.

Students have been moved seven times over the last two-and-a-half years, which Mr Kebede said was "incredibly disruptive to learning", and the extra work required by staff is "eating into their family life".

The school has also faced a financial shortfall following expenditures on provisional housing.

"We hope to see the government erase the accumulated deficit and implement a comparable level of intervention as they did for schools affected by the Raac concrete issue," stated Mr. Kebede.

A representative from the Department for Education stated that the government took over a school system with significant maintenance needs. Sacred Heart is included as part of the School Rebuilding Program.

They stated that the department would be "boosting investments up to £2.1 billion for the upcoming year to enhance the state of school facilities" and affirmed their "dedication to sustaining the present School Rebuilding Program."

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More on this story

• The school continues to be safe even after leaving the hazardous structure.

Related internet links

• Sacred Heart Primary School