Edinburgh primary school to remain closed as engineers probe structural issues
Parents have been left in the dark as to when their children will return to their school after structural issues forced the building to shut.
Edinburgh council was forced to close St Cuthbert’s Primary School in Slateford with immediate effect on Tuesday, March 24, after a routine health and safety check revealed deflection in the floor of a classroom.
Speaking on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the council said engineers are still carrying out inspections in the building and a report setting out what work is required is not expected until early next week.
The council has not indicated a timeframe for the reopening of the school, with the primary’s 180 pupils currently being hosted at two nearby schools while work is carried out.
The younger children have been decanted to St Peter’s Primary School in Morningside, while pupils in primary five, six and seven are being taught at St Augustine High School.
In a separate update on Wednesday the school’s head teacher Pat Brack thanked parents for their cooperation and said pupils had “settled in well” in their temporary schools.
He said the after school club had been given permission to reopen from Thursday but the school’s breakfast club remained closed.
The work does not affect the school’s nursery, which remains open as usual.
An Edinburgh council spokesman said: “Following evidence of deflection in the floor of a classroom in St Cuthbert’s Primary School building, the precautionary step was taken to close the school.
“Structural engineers are currently on site at the school to carry out further inspections and safety checks, and we are expecting a detailed report early next week setting out what work is required. We will keep families updated with information on next steps.
“All pupils are now settled at other schools, with 106 P1-P4 pupils at St Peter’s Primary School and 73 P5-P7 pupils at St Augustine High School.
“All pupils have been provided with transport from St Cuthbert’s to their host school.”