FOI Request - Forres Academy Information
Request 101003573466
Please note this FOI is for Forres Academy but If you have or had more than one school with RAAC in your local authority then please provide me with all the answers for each school.
1) Please provide me with copies/copy of the structural survey report/eports on this school regarding RAAC. Please ensure that the conclusion is included in that report or reports for each survey.
2) What action did you (The Council) take as a direct result of those reports or report?
3) If the school was closed, when did the school close? When do you expect it to re-open to students/staff? How long was the school closed for and is it still closed now? How did you accommodate the children in the event of full or partial closure? Can you confirm if the school was closed due to direct result of the RAAC investigation?
4) Can you confirm if this school has Asbestos? If there is asbestos, can you confirm the latest update to the asbestos register and the date it was previously checked? Was the asbestos register consulted and how was it consulted? If so by whom eg contracts manager or consultancy firm?
5) If remedial works were carried out to make the RAAC safe where children or staff present in the location of the works or were the works done out of school hours? How many days/weeks did the remedial works take? Did the works take longer than estimated, if so why?
6) Can you confirm if deep cleans or additional cleaning hours were required during or after any works on the RAAC over and above contracted hours to either council employees or an agency or contractor? If Yes please state how many additional hours in total were needed and over what period in days/weeks?
7) Can you confirm after any remedial works (if required) that an independent surveyor or the original surveyor checked and approved that the works where done according to IstructE?
Response 14-06-2024
1) A copy of the report has been sent directly to the requester.
2) Sections of the school have been permanently closed and other areas have had works undertaken along with an inspection programme being undertaken.
3) The school was closed for 5 days as a direct result of the RAAC investigation. When the school reopened some classes where undertaken within other schools within Moray for a term until mitigation works were complete and sufficient teaching space within the school could be reopened. A section of first floor accommodation in the school has been closed permanently.
4) Asbestos is present in Forres Academy; the asbestos register was checked by the Council’s appointed structural engineer and also contractors undertaking the works in the building.
5) The areas where mitigation works were being undertaken were closed for access by staff and pupils during the works. Main works programme run for 20 weeks (excluding the Xmas Holiday period) from 31 August 2023 until 26 January 2024 carried out in 3 stages. Main works were completed within estimated time period for the works where the contractor had resourced up to accommodate the target scope of works completion by first week in January with some additional non RAAC remedial works were undertaken extending the period to end of January 2024. As a result of the regular inspection programme the kitchen within the school was closed on 23 May and will reopen once mitigation works in this area are completed. These works are intended to be undertaken during the summer school holidays. This closure of the kitchen has not disrupted any classes or exams and education is continuing as normal. School meals are continuing to be provided via off-site preparation for the final five weeks of term.
6) Cleaning was undertaken by the contractor as part of the contract of works. Further in January prior to the school reopening after the festive break additional cleaning was undertaken by the Council team of approximately 1 day.
7) Mitigation works were inspected by the Council’s appointed structural engineer on completion of the works in line with normal contract management processes.