A secondary school has had to cancel activities after collapse-risk concrete (Raac) was found in a roof.
Watford Grammar School for Boys sent out a letter to parents, on Monday (September 11), letting them know that the building material had been found in its sports hall after an inspection revealed the issue that day.
The discovery means PE activities have had to be cancelled, with a limited range set to go ahead, and it has also hit community groups which will be unable to use the hall until repairs are complete.
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The material appears to be in good condition, the school said, but in line with recent advice from the Department for Education the affected area of the hall will not be used until mitigations are in place.
Watford Grammar School for Boys said it is not yet known exactly when work will be complete and added that it sent the letter with all the information it currently has as soon as it was notified.
The hall was built in 1981, within the range that was already the focus of past surveys, but it is thought that the material’s good condition is why it wasn’t identified as a concern previously.
In the letter to parents, headmaster Ian Cooksey described the news as “very frustrating” but added that compared to some other settings the school is "fortunate", because no other buildings have the issue.
There is no Raac in the changing rooms, fitness suite, cricket pavilion, or dance studio, which engineers have said can remain in full use.
On September 6, the Department for Education said that “The government will spend whatever it takes to keep children safe.”
It added: “All schools where RAAC is confirmed will be provided with funding for all mitigation works that are capital funded, such as propping and temporary accommodation.”
The letter explains that Watford Grammar School for Boys does not expect any of its existing resources will need to be spent on the works.
West Herts Sports Club’s Junior Winter Cricket Programme is one of the community groups hit by the closure and has been left “without a home” for its approximately 150 child sessions due to start next week, unless it can find an alternative venue.
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