Welshpool High School will be closed to years seven, eight and nine on Wednesday with health and safety officials to confirm tomorrow whether older students will also be allowed to attend.
The school has faced a race against time to be ready for term following extensive flood damage over the New Year period with asbestos compounding the problem.
And headmaster Mr. Jim Toal has confirmed that the priority will now be given for older students who face a crucial exam period.
“We have managed to restore the heating and the leaks have been stopped,” said Mr. Toal: “However, due to the presence of brown asbestos in the ceiling of the school kitchen area, which was one of the worst affected areas, we have to wait until several health and safety checks are carried out. This will not be done until Tuesday at the earliest, and from then on I will be able to make a decision on the school’s capacity to open on Wednesday. At this stage however, I can confirm that if we are given the go ahead, we will only be open for upper school years and therefore all pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 should NOT come to school on Wednesday.”
Workers have been back on site today cleaning up and trying to isolate the troubled areas that were affected when thawing pipes burst.
Mr. Graham Lewis, Chair of the School Governors, added. “The two gymnasiums are drying nicely but the canteen is the main area of concern. There is also one science lab which is closed but the heating is now back on and the workers have isolated the affected radiators.”
Tuesday is a training day and the teachers have already been informed that their day is likely to finish at noon as opposed to 3pm as originally scheduled.
Mywelshpool will bring you more developments as they happen.