Aberdeenshire school ceiling collapse checks find ‘no concerns’

An investigation has found there are “no concerns” about other schools after a primary school ceiling collapsed in Aberdeenshire, according to the chair of the council’s education committee.

The incident happened on 10 March at Slains School in Collieston before children had arrived at school for the day.

The school’s 22 pupils are now being taught six miles (10km) away at Port Erroll school in Cruden Bay.

Councillor David Keating told BBC Scotland News that staff were aware there was an issue with the school hall ceiling before it collapsed and had kept children away from it.

He said: “We identified seven or eight other schools and they have investigated them all.

“I believe all have been inspected and I’m going to rely on those who carried out the inspection but they have got no concerns or risks.”

He chose not to identify the other schools as he did not want people to “worry”.

Slains School has been deemed unsafe, and partial demolition will be required to the affected areas which are the gym hall and the two adjacent school classrooms.

After the incident, Aberdeenshire Council said the circumstances around the incident were because of a “cumulation of factors which appear to be unique to Slains School”.

Mr Keating said it was “not luck” that nobody was in the school at the time, as the issue had been identified by teaching staff.

“They kept the children out of the area they were concerned about,” he said.

“I am not going to say where we are because I want the investigation to complete properly before we make any grand statements.

“The children are at Port Errol and to be honest with you they are going to stay there for a while as we try and work out what to do with Slains.”

As there is asbestos at the site, work will also include an asbestos survey, management and clearance.