Parents have vented their frustration at the 'entirely avoidable' closure of a primary school in County Durham due to the concrete crisis.

They argue that disruption caused by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) should never have happened and that the government should have acted sooner.

A letter sent to parents at St Bede's Catholic Primary School, in Peterlee, explained that parts of the building are out of use while 'safety measures are put in place'.

It is just one of more than 100 schools closed across the country due to unsafe aerated concrete being found on the property.

Frances Cessford, the headteacher, emphasised how committed staff are to ensuring the children's education is not affected.

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The headteacher said: "Please rest assured that we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to minimise disruption and to ensure that pupils continue to receive the best education.

"We expect that from Wednesday we will have arrangements in place to allow each year group to be taught by our staff face-to-face on a rota basis in school, with the other year groups learning virtually.

"We are currently working on logistical arrangements and ensuring all the necessary health and safety and safeguarding checks are in place.

"The Department for Education will be supporting us throughout and will also be assisting with longer-term remediation measures so that we can bring all pupils back into school once we are fully confident it is safe to do so.

"The education and safety of our pupils and staff remains paramount. We would like to thank our pupils, parents and staff for their continued patience and support."

An anonymous parent said: "Students have already had unprecedented disruption to their education through the pandemic, but while that was completely unforeseen, the Department of Education have known about the issues with RAAC since 1994.

"This latest disruption was entirely avoidable.

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"When you consider that the school was partially rebuilt in 2010, then you have to question why they didn't carry out the remedial works on the remaining buildings there and then.

"Instead, the government have finally intervened and made the correct call, albeit years too late.

"To know that our daughter has been going to school in a building that could have been structurally compromised or collapse at any given moment, built with materials that are now two decades past their intended lifespan, is terrifying."