Woodton Primary School pupils relocated to village hall

Safety inspections have been under way at more than 50 schools across Norfolk due to issues involving lath and plaster ceilings that could be at risk of collapse. 

Woodton Primary School is one of those to have been identified as having an issue that needs repairing and pupils have been moved into the village hall for the foreseeable future. 

It has been revealed that Norfolk County Council is spending hundreds of pounds a week to use the facility, which is owned by the parish council, and  could be racking up bills of more than £1,000 each month the classroom remains closed. 

Woodton Primary School (Image: Google Maps) Jane Wickstead, chairman of the parish council, stressed that education is County Hall's responsibility and said the village hall was being offered as a gesture of "goodwill". 

She added: "The school is being cautious and has relocated the class because of problems that have come to light over the last few weeks.

"The buildings should have been properly maintained in the first place."

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Jane Wickstead, chairman of Woodton Parish Council (Image: Bruno Brown) Norfolk County Council started inspecting 23 schools at the beginning of the academic year after issues involving lath and plaster ceilings were discovered at Reepham Primary and Fakenham Junior.

The council asked academies to inspect their school buildings and commissioned inspections of 37 more schools across the county, finding six in need of repair including Woodton.

Woodton village hall (Image: Google Maps) Pupils are being taught at the village hall for the majority of the week. All 60 children have to cram into one room at the school on days the venue has been prebooked.

Dawn Reed, headteacher at Woodton Primary School, said: "It has been a bit of a squeeze but the parents are very grateful that we've been able to maintain face to face learning.

"We are hoping to get back to normal before half term once the ceilings have been replaced."

Dawn Reed, headteacher at Woodton Primary School (Image: Submitted) A spokesman for Norfolk County Council said: "We are grateful to the parish council for use of the hall, which means that the school can remain open for children in the village and that we are paying the usual hire rate."

The hire rate for the village hall, for non-local residents, is £35 for four hours.