Council gets assurances schools are safe

Falkirk Council requested assurances from the consortiums which built its private public schools after a crisis in Edinburgh which saw 17 PPP (Public Private Partnership)buildings closed due to construction faults.

Falkirk has nine such schools – Graeme, Braes, Larbert, Bo’ness, Falkirk, Denny, Grangemouth and St Mungo’s high schools and Carrongrange School – built through PFI or NPDO schemes by the Gateway and Class98 (Semperian) consortiums.

As the consortiums own the nine buildings, it is their responsibility to maintain them and ensure their safety.

The council say all schools, including its own facilities, have now been checked.

A spokesperson said: “Over the course of last week, our two schools providers have undertaken a range of visual and intrusive surveys across our nine PPP/NPDO schools and have confirmed that no concerns have been reported.

“We have received the written assurances we requested on the safety and structural integrity of the school’s external walls.

“All schools in the Falkirk Council area have been constructed to industry standards and, as far as can be reasonably ascertained, our school estate is considered to be safe, structurally sound and [is] in good condition overall.”