Newcastle and Wallsend primary schools hit by RAAC crisis set for new builds by 2028

The Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust has confirmed plans for a redevelopment at both St Columba’s Catholic Primary School, in Wallsend, and St John Vianney, in West Denton.

Both schools had to be closed in summer 2023, amid safety concerns following the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Staff and pupils at St Columba’s are currently housed in a two-storey modular site on the school field next to its old premises, which are due to be demolished ahead of a new school being built as a permanent replacement.

The trust has also confirmed that the main building at St John Vianney, currently out of use after being found to contain RAAC in its ceiling panels, will also be replaced. Children there are currently housed in a temporary building as well as in a newer block at the primary school where no RAAC was found.

It is hoped that both new builds will be ready to open during the 2027/28 academic year, with the Government expected to fund the projects.

The two schools were both added to the Department for Education’s (DfE) School Rebuilding Programme in February 2024 in the wake of the RAAC crisis, which has affected more than 200 schools across the country, and their headteachers have both met with Government officials to outline the needs of each site.

Education minister Baroness Smith told the House of Lords in January that the DfE was “committed to resolving this problem as quickly as possible, permanently removing RAAC either through grant funding or the School Rebuilding Programme”.

She said: “For schools having RAAC removed through the School Rebuilding Programme, schools are prioritised for delivery according to the condition need of their buildings, readiness to proceed, and efficiency of delivery. We will also take into account the suitability and longevity of any temporary accommodation they are using. We have confirmed to responsible bodies when works are expected to start.”

There are currently 518 schools listed on the rebuilding programme, which the Government says will be delivered at a rate of around 50 per year.

St Columba’s headteacher Rachel Quinn said that pupils and staff “love” the temporary building they are using for the moment, which had previously been used to house a secondary school in Nottingham and was transported to Tyneside in blocks which were assembled on site. 

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As well as eight classrooms for pupils from nursery age to Year 6, the space includes a hall, a library, two offices, a staff room, a meeting room, a group activity area, and a kitchen.

Miss Quinn added: “It is clean, modern and spacious. They love the library space and access to our forest area. Children love the new water fountains. The staff are enjoying the new IT equipment and interactive screens.

“We allowed the whole community to visit before the children returned, and celebrated with ‘welcome back’ banners, balloons, and a special assembly.”