CORRINGHAM Primary School has been added to the list of schools that could be affected by disruption to lessons as it deals with a concrete problem.

Four other schools have already been affected.

At Corringham, building surveyors have identified that Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is present in the extension to the Upper School on Herd lane.

The RACC was reinforced in the early 2000s with and surveyors say that rosk is is negligible

Head teacher Karina Garrick has written to parents to say: "We wanted to inform you that we do have this form of concrete in one area of the school and we had already commissioned an inspection of it in response to a local authority survey on July 6th 2023. Munday and Cramer conducted the survey and provided a comprehensive report and risk assessment which showed that the concrete had previously been reinforced and this was most likely to be in response to previous DFE action to minimise potential risks and we were reassured by this.

"However, we have been identified by the DFE for a further survey and we have taken the sensible decision to vacate the children from the affected classrooms until this survey has taken place so that we can be 100% certain there are no risks to the safety of our community.

"We do not anticipate any negative impact on the pupils' education and they will continue to learn in the following alternative locations:

- Year 6 will be split into two groups and will be taught in New Zealand classroom where RAAC is not present and the upper school hall / library.

- Year 4 will be taught in the lower school hall and use will also be made of Harbour and Lighthouse rooms.

"We hope that disruption will be short-term and we are working closely with the DFE to identify and rectify any risks should their survey uncover anything not previously identified by Munday and Cramer.Given we have already had this survey we are hope that no further risks will be identified."

A later update to the letter this evening (Friday 1, September) brings hope that disruption could be avoided.

Ortu Trust CEO Kevin Sadler contacted Thurrock Nub news to say: "We have just received a call from the DfE to say that they will be carrying out a detailed survey of the affected classrooms at Corringham Primary on Monday (a non-pupil day) so fingers crossed, if we get the all clear we will not need to close classrooms."