East Bergholt and Claydon high schools, near Ipswich, identified as having concrete issues

A pair of Suffolk high schools from the same trust have joined a third after being identified as having reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) on their sites.

East Bergholt and Claydon, who are part of the Penrose Learning Trust, have joined Hadleigh High School in informing parents and carers of students that the defective concrete has been found on its sites.

The BBC has said more than 150 schools in England have areas in them that contain RAAC and would have to be shut them off until they were made safe.

In a letter yesterday to parents and carers of the three schools, Sarah Skinner, chief executive of the trust and the individual headteachers, said: “We were only made aware of the requirement to close areas where RAAC is present at 3pm yesterday and as such are in the process of emergency planning.”

The letter says that surveys of the school will be completed over the weekend and an update will come as to whether the school will delay its reopening or open partially for the new term next week.

The statement concluded: “Thank you in advance for your support in this matter; we are committed to solving the problem as quickly as we can and ensuring the safety of students and staff.”