The Headteacher of Wells Blue School has asked all Wells Primary Schools to include the following message in their newsletter.
The Blue School – Kennion buildings
I am sure that the majority of you are aware of the issues that we have faced at The Blue School since Christmas with one of our teaching blocks, Kennion. I suspect that this may have caused some anxiety, notably amongst those parents of Year 6 students, but perhaps others as well. My purpose in writing directly to you is to help respond to some of the questions that you may have and to ensure that you have access to the information needed.
I have attempted to be very open with the parents of students currently at the school about the issues and how those structural investigations are being managed, together with the measures we are putting in place to support our students. We publish our letters home on our school website and you can access them here: https://www.theblueschoolwells.co.uk/56/letters-home. There are currently three letters on there that relate to the Kennion building and they will give you a good picture of developments.
It is important to state that investigations are ongoing and some of the long-term questions we do not have an answer for at present. However, whilst those investigations are taking place, we are undertaking significant contingency planning with the Department for Education. This will include additional classroom space to replace the areas that we have lost.
The ambition is that we have any temporary classrooms that are needed deployed by Easter. That is the deadline we have set, but also reflects the national availability of these structures. Much work continues to try to finalise this programme. Having those additional rooms will mean that we have the capacity for all students to be based in school for face-to-face learning.
I mention this deadline because it should be the case that this therefore does not directly affect any students planning to come to The Blue School in September or beyond. Home learning for the current students is intended only as a short-term mitigation whilst we get through this opening stage. We are all clear – and that includes the Department for Education – that this will not continue in the longer term.
I am pleased to say that our case is being treated as a priority. We have a visit this afternoon from Barroness Barran, Minister for Schools System, alongside James Heappey, MP. They are reviewing first-hand the impact of the issues with the buildings in school.
I hope that provides some reassurance. Please do feel free to use The Blue School website to keep up to date with developments.
Mark Woodlock
Headteacher
The Blue School, Wells.
