Children to be moved into mobile classrooms as Sheffield school's heating system wears out
Buildings needed until new heating system is installed at school next year
Youngsters at a popular Sheffield primary school are to be moved into mobile classrooms when its heating system is replaced.
Athelstan Primary School in Richmond has placed eight mobile buildings onto part of its playground to offer replacement accommodation when work to replace a heating system starts in Easter 2027.
Sheffield Council has this week given the school planning permission for the units.
They may be needed beforehand if the heating system fails.
In a statement to the council, the school explained that it needs the block for 30 months to ensure continuity of educational provision throughout a planned heating replacement programme and to provide resilience against any unforeseen failure of the existing heating system.
The school said: “The school intends to commence the main heating replacement works around Easter 2027.
“However, due to the age and condition of the existing heating infrastructure, there is a risk of significant failure before the planned works commence, particularly following periods of prolonged shutdown during school holiday closures.
“The temporary accommodation is therefore required in advance of the heating replacement programme to ensure suitable teaching space is immediately available should the existing classrooms become unusable ahead of Easter 2027 due to heating failure.”
The work to fit new heating is due to be carried out over a period of around 12 months, but the school wants to plan for any unexpected changes or any overrun.
Once the new heating is installed, the mobile buildings will be removed and the site brought back into use as a playground.
The school says there will still be enough playground space throughout the works for pupils to use during break times and for outdoor activities while the work is done.
A council report stated that the buildings are already in place, and the planning application is retrospective, asking for permission to keep them.
The council approved the planning application on Tuesday.