A Suffolk scout troop has come to the rescue of a school 'at two hours notice' after the site was identified as having so-called 'crumbling concrete'.
Volunteers and sea scouts from 5th Woodbridge Sea Scouts leapt into action on Wednesday and installed a large marquee in the grounds of Farlingaye High School in Woodbridge, which is one of more than 100 schools in England with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
Last week, the Department for Education (DfE) told schools to close buildings that are constructed with RAAC over safety fears and Farlingaye announced over the weekend it would be partially shut in time for the new term due to the presence of RAAC in some buildings.
READ MORE: Woodbridge: Farlingaye High School headmaster about RAAC
The action prompted a scramble to find spaces around the school site that can be transformed into classrooms and the marquee will be used as a common room for pupils in Years 12 and 13.
Their actual common room has had to be used as a makeshift classroom until the RAAC problem is resolved.
Scout leader Nicola Tooke, who is also a science teacher at the school, described a 'blitz spirit' in the scouts, who prided themselves on being able to help in a crisis.
READ MORE: Farlingaye High School partially closed due to RAAC
She said: “As scouts, we promise to help other people and throughout history, scouts have always put themselves forward to help in a crisis, so we were keen to do what we could to help.
"I contacted members of the scout group yesterday afternoon, we had rallied enough help within half an hour and had the tent on site and erected before 7pm that night, with help from local Farlingaye staff.
"As a teacher at Farlingaye and Scout leader at 5th Woodbridge, I am really pleased we could do something, however small, to help.”
READ MORE: Woodbridge news
The school's head Peter Smith, who has only recently taken the reins at Farlingaye, said: “The marquee looks brilliant and just shows the incredible response we have had from both the staff here and our phenomenal wider community.
"To get the school up and running is a credit to all involved and a huge thank you to those who have given their time, support and energy so generously.”
Farlingaye is one of four schools in Suffolk known to be affected by RAAC, in addition to Hadleigh High, East Bergholt High and Claydon High.
READ MORE: Suffolk news
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