Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Barrow, Cumbria, faces continued disruption as safety concerns have forced the school to remain closed for over two years. Building inspectors deemed the ground floor potentially susceptible to collapse, prompting an evacuation on 16 January 2023. The Department for Education (DfE) estimates that required repairs could extend over three to five years, leaving students and faculty in a state of limbo.
Headteacher Simone Beach has expressed her concerns about the impact on students' learning time. Until the school can reopen, children endure daily commutes by coach to St Bernard's High School for their education. Additionally, two nursery classes are temporarily housed at Greengate Children's Centre in town. Despite these arrangements, the school community remains fragmented, even with plans for temporary accommodations.
In response to the ongoing challenges, the DfT submitted proposals to Westmorland and Furness Council in October to construct a temporary nursery and junior school on Sacred Heart's playground. This initiative aims to offer a longer school day, an aspect that Beach welcomes. However, she emphasizes that the situation remains "tricky" and notes the unexpected duration of the closure.
"We definitely did not expect it to take this long [to be resolved]." – Simone Beach
The uncertainty surrounding the school's reopening has resulted in some students experiencing up to six temporary locations within two years. Beach has yet to receive confirmation of a timeline for restoration, adding to the complexity of planning and delivering education effectively.
While the proposed temporary facilities offer a glimmer of hope for a more stable learning environment, they underscore the challenges posed by the prolonged closure. The situation at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School remains delicate, with stakeholders eagerly awaiting developments that would restore normalcy for students and staff.
