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Schools’ safety assurance omits dangerous windows      2/4/14

 

A reassurance by Western Isles education bosses that no “urgent defects” were found in schools’ safety checks fails to mention windows which came crashing down.

 

The Comhairle issued a safety assurance following the tragic death of 12-year-old Keane Wallis-Bennet who died when an internal freestanding wall collapsed at Liberton High School in Edinburgh on Tuesday. Edinburgh City Council later said that a full survey of schools had been carried out in 2012/13 and “no concerns with the wall was identified.”

 

Western Isles Council said it also carried similar checks in island schools and found no “urgent” defects.

 

However, the Comhairle’s statement did not mention there had indeed been potentially dangerous problems at certain schools last year.

 

It omitted to say that three windows crashed to the floor below at Point and Balivanich schools. Fortunately, no injuries occurred but safety screens were installed over a number of suspect windows to try and prevent pupils from being injured in any repeat incident.

 

Later, six potentially unsafe glazing units were replaced at Balivanich - as well as two roof windows in Point - last summer. Glazing panels were also reversed to provide additional protection.

 

At the time, education bosses insisted the new £29 million, newly opened Nicolson Institute, the islands biggest school, was “unaffected.”

 

In a “helpful” note to reassure parents it stressed there were no plans to inspect windows at the Nicolson as they were a different design.

 

Soon afterwards, that position completely changed when safety checks on around 100 roof windows at the Nicolson were ordered.

 

Screens or “temporary protection works” were installed as a “proactive measure” before the survey.

 

On Wednesday a council spokesman said: “In light of the significance of the event at Liberton High School, we will ask all head teachers to contact the Education Department if they have any areas of concern in relation to their school.”

 

He highlighted the council took “appropriate action” to replace the unsafe windows last year and - if head teachers report hazardous defects - will take similar action for the safety of pupils.

 

He added: “All Western Isles schools have had condition surveys undertaken during 2012/13.

 

“No urgent structural defects were identified in any of our schools. Work identified as requiring to be done has been prioritised and is being addressed through a planned programme of work.

 

“In addition, all our schools are subject to a health and safety review on a three year rolling programme.”