“We will be seeking answers from ESP as they have once again let down the parents and the Council over the condition of the school.” – City of Edinburgh Council Chief Executive Andrew Kerr
Following proactive inspections by the Council of recent repairs carried out by the Edinburgh Schools Partnership (ESP), further work is to be carried out immediately on Oxgangs Primary School. Faults have been identified on the roof and in the suspended ceilings of the school following the inspections last month.
Incidents earlier in the year, involving loose flashing on the roof and internal ceiling tiles, prompted the City of Edinburgh Council to carry out checks on the school.
The Edinburgh Schools Partnership are the body responsible for building, maintaining and operating the 17 schools under the PPP1 project on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council.
Despite confirmation from ESP that the issues identified had been made safe, the results of the proactive inspections by the Council showed further issues that were not addressed, namely more loose flashing across the roof and issues with suspended ceilings involving support wires, incorrectly fitted tiles/light fittings and tiles.
Any urgent issues needing addressed were made safe during the inspections last month.
A further scheduled full independent condition survey of the school commissioned by the Council is taking place next week.
As a precaution the Council has commissioned similar suspended ceiling and roof checks to be carried out on the other 16 schools under the PPP1 project. These include Forthview, Pirniehall, St David’s and Craigroyston Primary Schools in North Edinburgh.
Chief Executive Andrew Kerr said: “I fully understand parents will be concerned at these latest developments but I want to reassure them that action is being taken to fix these issues.
“We have always stated that the health and safety of our pupils and staff is paramount which is why we are making sure these issues are remedied immediately and as a precaution, we will be carrying out similar checks on the other 16 schools in the PPP1 project.
“We are extremely concerned at these latest construction defects at Oxgangs Primary School following the wall collapse two years ago and the Edinburgh Schools Partnership have to be held accountable.
“It was our own proactive inspections that identified these latest issues and we will be seeking answers from ESP as they have once again let down the parents and the Council over the condition of the school.”
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