New classrooms at fire-hit Edinburgh primary school may not be ready in time for start of new term

Pupils face being sent to other sites

The fire in February caused extensive damage at Liberton Primary School

PARENTS at a fire-damaged Edinburgh primary school have been told temporary classrooms planned for the site might not be ready in time for the start of the new term in August.

Liberton Primary was hit by a devastating blaze in February and many of the 450 pupils had to be accommodated in three separate venues until all schools were closed because of coronavirus.

The 12 portable classrooms due to be built on the school grounds were intended to bring all the children back together on their own site.

But now parents fear the youngsters could be sent to a variety of different alternative accommodation again.

Headteacher Paul Ewing told parents in a Zoom call that the work on the temporary units had been delayed because of the coronavirus crisis and might not be completed in time for August 12 when all the Capital’s schools are due to reopen.

There are still eight classrooms available inside the school, plus the ICT suite, the studio hall and possibly the gym hall, leaving up to seven classes without accommodation.

Other buildings now being mentioned as possible venues to accommodate the children include Inch House Community Education Centre and parts of Edinburgh University.

But Edinburgh Southern Labour MSP Daniel Johnson said he hoped greater efforts would be made to get the temporary classrooms in place.

He said: “I am greatly concerned to hear of delays to the temporary buildings for Liberton Primary.

“Children at this school have faced first a tragic fire followed by months of lockdown. This is the last thing they need.

“The council and Scottish Government should redouble their efforts to get the temporary classroom in place in time for the new school year.”

The school website acknowledges “uncertainty” about what accommodation will be available onsite.

The website’s latest update says: “The decant village will be high spec, but perhaps Portakabin could provide a lower-spec temporary solution to accommodate more classes in the meantime.

“Buildings need to be safe, watertight, etc but don’t need to be fully fitted with display boards and wifi, etc, to be functional as classrooms

“There is no desire to go back to decant or to move to a part-time solution. Ideally, it is hoped that Portakabin can be encouraged to speed up their timescale.”

The website also quotes chief education officer Andy Gray telling the school: “You can be absolutely assured that colleagues in property and in my own team are working very hard to secure a safe and appropriate arrangement which avoids decant to other settings if at all possible.”

Around 50 firefighters tackled the fire which broke out at the school in the afternoon of February 5. A video at the time showed flames at a first-floor window. Classes had finished for the day and all staff and pupils still inside were safely evacuated.

A council spokesman said: “In light of the First Minister’s announcement on Tuesday we are planning for all schools returning to 100 per cent occupancy in August. We are looking at solutions to ensure children return on-site at Liberton Primary School, and will be liaising with parents.”