Norfolk County Council orders urgent ceiling checks in schools including Roydon, Bressingham and Pulham

More than 30 school buildings are set to have inspections following concerns about damage to some of their ceilings.

Norfolk County Council has commissioned checks of 37 more school buildings, as a precaution, after it was notified by Synergy Education Trust about issues involving lath and plaster ceilings at some of its schools.

The material alone is not a cause for concern, but ceilings may be at risk of collapsing if the lath and plaster is damaged.

Twenty-three schools were identified for urgent visits at the beginning of term, including Hempnall Primary School and Pulham Primary School.

These were schools where the council knew that the material was present.

Urgent surveys were then also requested at primary schools in Great Ellingham, Bressingham, Roydon and Saxlingham Nethergate.

Penny Carpenter, cabinet member for children’s services at Norfolk County Council, said: “The safety of children and staff is always our first priority, so we are now checking any school where we think there could be this material.

“This is a similar approach to the one we used when RAAC issues were identified nationally.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience it might cause to children, parents and schools but we believe it is the right approach to assure ourselves of children’s safety.”