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At Sandelford Special School in Coleraine, County Londonderry, four mobile classrooms have been shut down once again due to ongoing issues such as leaks, mould, and fungal growth. This closure means that over 30 pupils attending the school now face the challenge of continued remote learning from home. These students have already experienced approximately a week away from in-person schooling since September, all linked to health and safety concerns. The Education Authority (EA) acknowledged the disruption, describing the period as “a very unsettling time for families and the school, which we deeply regret.”
Despite earlier assurances from the EA that the classrooms were safe—as communicated to parents on 13 November—a letter sent to parents by Sandelford school on 20 November reversed this position. The letter explained that following a report from an independent air quality assurance firm, the EA had decided on the immediate closure of the four mobile classrooms. It admitted that this contradicted previous communications confirming the classrooms’ safety. The school committed to providing learning materials for students to continue their education at home during the closure.
Wendy Gallagher, mother of Andrew, a pupil at Sandelford, expressed relief upon learning about the immediate closure but shared deep frustration with the situation. She revealed that she was only informed late on Thursday night about the classrooms’ closure and felt validated that children would no longer be placed in potentially unsafe environments. Wendy voiced the difficulties faced by parents of vulnerable children, highlighting the school’s crucial role in their lives. She said, “I feel as a parent we have been put in a horrible position, and these children are vulnerable as it is,” emphasizing the emotional toll the situation has taken on families. She praised Sandelford staff for their ongoing advocacy and dedication, while also criticizing the Education Authority for allowing the situation to deteriorate. Wendy added, “How can we be expected to plan our working lives when we literally have no clue as to when our child will be back in school?”
Local political figures have also voiced strong criticism of the Education Authority’s handling of the matter. Jon Burrows from the UUP described the circumstances as “simply unacceptable,” stating that vulnerable children and their worried parents have been let down. He urged the EA to demonstrate decisive leadership by communicating clearly with families and delivering adequately resourced interim support that maintains specialist services while pupils remain out of school. Burrows promised to hold the EA accountable until safe, appropriate in-person education is restored for every affected child. Similarly, SDLP’s Cara Hunter stressed the importance of “routine, stability and the support of specialist staff” for children with special educational needs, highlighting that “home-based learning is no substitute for the classroom.” She further acknowledged the dedication of the staff at Sandelford while criticizing the EA for repeated failures to meet the needs of these pupils.
The Education Authority responded with a statement reaffirming that the “safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff at Sandelford School is our absolute priority.” They noted that their Maintenance Service has been working closely with the school on planned roofing repairs for the mobile classrooms. Emergency repair work was prioritized earlier in the month, and independent air quality tests initially deemed the classrooms safe for use. However, after receiving updated technical advice, the EA decided to close the mobile classrooms immediately. Plans are underway to relocate the affected pupils to the recently closed Balnamore Primary School in Ballymoney, County Antrim, as a temporary solution. This situation occurs against the backdrop of a recent report from Stormont’s Public Accounts Committee highlighting that many Northern Ireland schools are in poor repair, requiring up to £800 million in refurbishment costs
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