School Closure should have been a ‘Flash Warning’

A Norfolk MP has called for derelict city school to be transformed.

Alice Macdonald, Labour MP for Norwich North, has urged County Hall to bring the Angel Road Junior School building back into use.

The school suddenly closed down more than three years ago after tiles fell from the ceiling and could sit empty for another decade unless Norfolk County Council agrees a new lease.

Ms Macdonald told parliament that “urgent action” was required and expressed her hopes to see the site turned into a school for children with special educational needs (SEND).

Since its closure in 2021, the school site has been left empty, with delays in securing a future for it branded a “scandal” by opposition councillors at County Hall.

The current lease on Angel Road Infant School is due to expire in 2035, meaning unless current renegotiations conclude the junior school site will remain in limbo.

Norwich North Labour MP Alice Macdonald raised the issue of the empty school – and her hopes that it can be turned into a school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) – in Parliament last week.

A spokeswoman for Norfolk County Council confirmed the council had not yet carried out its own inspection of the ceiling at Angel Road Junior School.

She said:

“This is something we will do when the building is transferred back. The school isn’t being used currently, so there has been no reason to carry out an inspection.”

But Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at County Hall, said:

“We need to challenge the whole school building inspection system.

“Angel Road Junior School closed because of a ceiling collapse, which should have been a flashing warning that other older school buildings in Norfolk might be at risk.

“Academies have taken over many former council run schools on full repairing leases, but the county council remains responsible for school standards including ensuring children are learning in a safe and well maintained environment.”

Mr Morphew said the current rules over inspections of schools needed to be “clarified and tightened” to prevent responsibility being avoided.

He said:

“Children’s safety trumps every consideration. But behind that is a potentially enormous backlog of inspection, improvement, maintenance and cost which academies have responsibility for, and the council has responsibility for making sure is carried out, on top of direct responsibility for schools still under council control.

“This is becoming a major issue and I am very pleased Alice Macdonald raised it in the House.”

When the county council announced the inspections of the schools it has responsibility for, it urged trusts to conduct their own safety checks.

Source: Eastern Daily Express