Reopening of Sheffield primary school delayed after ceiling falls through into classroom

While schools all over the country were returning after almost six months off due to the cornavirus pandemic, Aston Fence Junior and Infant School, in Woodhouse Mill, had to remain closed.

The ‘all clear’ has now been given for the school to reopen tomorrow (September 2) instead.

Staff at the school shared an ‘urgent message’ to parents yesterday evening (August 31) revealing photos of the damage which showed crumbling ceiling tiles which had fallen to the floor in a classroom.

The message read: “Due to building safety concerns, school is UNABLE to open tomorrow. We will keep you updated as soon as the structural engineers have assessed the damage. Please check your emails for further updates.”

Nobody was hurt as a result of the damage.

The Star was told by the school that everything was being done to ensure it could reopen for the children ‘as soon as possible’.

Today (September 1) thousands of schoolchildren returned to classrooms across England and Wales.

Approximately 40 per cent of schools were expected to welcome back students for the start of the autumn term, despite concerns about their ability to reopen safely.

It was the first time many pupils in England have stepped into a classroom since March, when schools were closed except to look after vulnerable children and those of key workers.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has called on the Government to temporarily scrap fines for parents who do not send their children back to class due to fears around coronavirus.

Schools minister Nick Gibb appealed to families on Tuesday morning to send their children back to school, adding that any pupil with coronavirus symptoms would be sent home to be tested.

Mr Gibb told BBC Breakfast: “I would urge parents to send their children back to school to help them to catch up on the lost education that they will inevitably have suffered during the lockdown period, and schools are doing everything they can to make sure that their pupils and their staff are safe.”