Chiefs at a County Durham school have updated parents after it last week announced it would be unable to reopen later in the month after crumbling concrete was found.

A document released by the school outlines that students at St Leonard's, in Durham, may be back in classrooms soon following meetings with the Department for Education and Durham University. 

Currently, St Leonard's staff are hopeful that year 7, 8, and 9 pupils will be able to use classrooms in the buildings that are free of Reinforced Aerated Autoclaved Concrete (RAAC). 

Following "successful meetings" with Durham University, older students will likely be taught in university facilities until remedial works are completed.

St Leonard’s in Durham City was told on August 31 that it has reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in its construction months after surveys were carried out in the spring. 

The school has promised that they and other involved bodies are currently working on the "final plans", and will bring pupils together in "various locations" this week. 

Sixth Form students will spend two days at the Radisson hotel, in sessions that focus on pastoral care and upcoming UCAS applications - though more details about this visit are set to be announced over the next few days. 

There are also plans to get year groups 7 to 11 together before the end of the week, which could see students using local facilities like the Emmaus Youth Village, or the school's playing fields. 

A letter sent out by the school last week and signed by headteacher Chris Hammill, said: "I received a call yesterday (Thursday) afternoon at 2.30 pm informing us that we are one of the schools affected.

"From our initial understanding, we may be able to use some limited buildings and are currently thinking through how we best support our pupils at this time. 

"Our aim is to share this with families over the weekend, most probably Sunday afternoon.

"This is a very difficult time for all of us; first and foremost, our pupils. We are so disappointed at the timing of this decision in terms of being able to put solutions in place.

"I know families will share this frustration and I urge us all to consider writing to our local MPs at this time."

Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy said: "That the school has only been informed days before term was due to begin beggars' belief, leaving the school without time to arrange alternative sites to ensure learning is not disrupted, and leaving parents with little time to arrange work, or childcare commitments.

"This situation is utterly shambolic, schools should be safe havens for children and ministers must be held accountable.

"The government has been aware of the structural flaws of RAAC in school buildings since 2018.

"I am utterly appalled by the failure to prepare for this eventuality, proving that the government has sunk to a new level of rank incompetence.

"This is a national disgrace, and a scandal that is unquestionably the product of over 13 years of negligent and damaging Tory rule."