Urgent safety inspections have been ordered at almost 40 more schools across Norfolk as concerns mount over whether ceilings could be at risk of collapse.

A problem has been identified at another school, which meant one of its classrooms had to be shut on Tuesday and dozens more schools have been added to a lengthening inspection list.

Norfolk County Council started inspecting 23 schools at the beginning of the academic year after the Synergy Education Trust notified County Hall about issues involving lath and plaster ceilings at Reepham Primary and Fakenham Junior.

Avenue Junior SchoolAvenue Junior School (Image: Google Maps)

That led to an emergency closure at Avenue Junior School after issues with the ceilings of six classrooms were discovered.

And a classroom at Parkside School in Norwich was shut on Tuesday due to concerns.

Parkside SchoolParkside School (Image: Angela Sharpe)

The problems affect schools where the ceilings contain plaster and lath which can lose their structural integrity, particularly if they get wet.

The council asked academies to inspect their school buildings and has now commissioned inspections of 37 more schools County Hall maintains across the county - based on the age of the buildings.

Penny CarpenterPenny Carpenter (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

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, just to be on the safe side.

"We know that the material alone doesn’t pose a risk, but we want to check for signs of any damage, as we know these ceilings can collapse if there are showing signs of wear and tear.

"If we find any damage that requires urgent repairs then we will work with schools to minimise disruption and support their contingency planning.

"This is a similar approach to the one we used when RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) issues were identified nationally.

"We're 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."

The 37 further schools which will be inspected are:

  • Aldborough Primary School 
  • Bacton Primary School 
  • Erpingham VC Primary School 
  • Langham Village School 
  • Ludham Primary School and Nursery 
  • Northrepps Primary School 
  • Sidestrand Hall School 
  • Swanton Abbott Community Primary School 
  • Tunstead Primary School 
  • Denver CE VC Primary School 
  • Great Massingham CE Primary School (the school says it was inspected on September 10 and no issues found)
  • Harpley CE VC Primary School (the school says it was inspected on September 10 and no issues found)
  • Terrington St Clement Community School 
  • Terrington St John Primary School 
  • Tilney St. Lawrence Community Primary School 
  • Walpole Highway Community Primary School 
  • Great Ellingham Primary School 
  • Heartwood CE VC Primary and Nursery School 
  • Earlham Nursery School 
  • Blofield Primary School 
  • Buxton Primary School 
  • Cantley Primary School 
  • Freethorpe Community Primary and Nursery School
  • Hevingham Primary School
  • St Faiths CE VC Primary School 
  • Sprowston Junior School 
  • Fleggburgh CE Primary School 
  • St George’s Primary & Nursery School 
  • Hemsby Primary School 
  • Rollesby Primary School 
  • Bressingham Primary School 
  • Brooke VC CE Primary School 
  • Hingham Primary School 
  • Roydon Primary School 
  • Saxlingham Nethergate CE VC Primary School 
  • Wicklewood Primary School And Nursery 
  • Wreningham VC Primary School

The initial 23 schools being inspected were:  

  • Avenue Junior School, Norwich 
  • Barford Primary School  
  • Browick Road Primary And Nursery School, Wymondham 
  • Colby Primary School,  
  • Ellingham CE VC Primary School, Bungay  
  • Frettenham Primary School  
  • Hainford VC Primary School  
  • Hempnall Primary School  
  • Hethersett VC Primary School  
  • Holt Community Primary School  
  • Horning Community Primary School  
  • Magdalen Gates Primary School and Nursery, Norwich  
  • Mundesley Infant School  
  • Old Catton CE Junior School  
  • Pulham CE Primary School  
  • Reedham Primary and Nursery School  
  • Rocklands Community Primary School  Scarning VC Primary School  
  • Swanton Morley VC Primary School  
  • The Bawburgh School  
  • The Clare School, Norwich  
  • The Parkside School - Surlingham House, Norwich  
  • Woodton Primary School