BARONESS Barran, the Department for Education Minister with responsibility for school and college buildings, visited The Blue School in Wells to discuss the action plan following structural concerns identified over Christmas.

She was joined on her visit by the Member of Parliament for Wells, James Heappey, along with officials from the Department for Education involved in the provision of temporary accommodation.

The Minister and Mr Heappey were hosted by both the Headteacher, Mark Woodlock, and the chair of the school’s governors, Jonathan Brown, and were taken around the affected buildings as well as viewing the potential sites for temporary accommodation.

Following the visit, Mr Heappey said: “I am grateful to the Minister for taking the time to come to Wells and see the issues the school is facing.

“Parents, teachers, and the Government all share a desire to minimise the amount of time students spend away from school which is why the school’s leadership team and officials from the Department for Education are working at such pace to deliver temporary accommodation.

“I will continue to join the weekly update meetings to support the school in accessing whatever resources they need.”

The Kennion block at The Blue School lost 20 classrooms after a structural engineer examined the concrete floor joists that run across the old part of Kennion block – largely Kennion vestibule and the classrooms in the adjoining tower.

After discovering “extensive cracking” the whole of that part of Kennion was closed pending further investigation.