Fourth Haringey school hit by concrete safety crisis

St John Vianney Primary School added to list of schools containing Raac while start of term delayed at Hornsey School for Girls, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

St John Vianney Primary School (credit Google)

A fourth school in Haringey is now known to contain a type of concrete prone to collapse that has sparked a nationwide safety alert.

St John Vianney Primary School in Harringay has reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) on its site but all pupils remain in face-to-face education, the government has confirmed.

The voluntary-aided Roman Catholic school is on a list of education settings with confirmed Raac on their sites published by the Department for Education (DfE) yesterday (Wednesday 6th).

The concrete material, used in the construction of schools and other public buildings from the 1950s to the 1990s, has a lifespan of around 30 years.

Three other schools in the borough – Welbourne Primary School in Tottenham Hale, Hornsey School for Girls in Crouch End, and Park View School in West Green – are also known to be affected by the issue.

The start of term at Hornsey School for Girls has been delayed as accommodation is finalised. The school published a reminder on its website that year groups will be welcomed back “in a staggered way to ensure our building works can be completed”. All year groups are due to be back at school by 13th September.

At least 156 schools across England are said to have buildings containing the type of concrete found to be unsafe. While some of these were already aware of the problem, others have been forced to suddenly close off parts of the school or close entirely until safety works take place.

Haringey Council maintains that none of the borough’s schools will close as a result of the government’s announcement.

In a statement issued last week, Zena Brabazon, Haringey’s cabinet member for children, schools and families, said the council had been “very proactive and actively involved in tackling the issue head-on for some months” and had “carried out borough-wide surveys to identify any concerns back in February”.

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