School community 'devastated' after sudden closure

Staff and families have said they are "devastated" by the sudden closure of a school in Nottinghamshire but believe a sense of community will see them through the crisis.

St Peter's C of E Junior School in Ruddington closed on Tuesday after routine maintenance uncovered "significant structural issues".

Head teacher Michael Bradley said the disruption meant it had "probably been the most difficult period of my career".

Kelly, who has two children affected, said: "It's worrying not knowing what is going to happen - but I have every faith in the school."

A letter confirming the closure was sent out to parents on Tuesday and the county council confirmed on Wednesday that all pupils will have a place at another school from Friday.

But some of these are not in the village and buses will have to be provided for transport.

Staff, who will be moving with their classes to the new schools, spent much of Wednesday moving furniture, files and work books.

Mr Bradley said the impact had been magnified by its suddenness.

"We've been having building works taking place over the past few months but that was to replace windows and fascias.

"Never in a million years did I think it would end up like this, the news came out of the blue.

"The school community is absolutely devastated.

"It's probably been the most difficult period of my career and I'd be lying if I said a few tears hadn't been shed," he said.

But he said there was also a lot to be thankful for.

"As a school we are more than just a building, we are a real community," he said.

"We will cope without a building because of our community spirit but it will be a tough few months.

"But our staff, our pupils and our parents are all coming together and the messages I have had from the community have been really optimistic and supportive."

Deputy head teacher Caroline Houghton said the closure was disrupting an important time of year.

"Today was Christmas jumper day and Christmas dinner day," she said.

"It really saddens us that Christmas can't happen in the school like it absolutely should.

"We've got our Year 4 show that was supposed to be happening Thursday evening and we are very much hoping that at some point we will be able to put that on for the parents and their children so everyone gets their chance to sparkle."

Jen Walker, who represents Ruddington on Rushcliffe Borough Council, said: "This shouldn't have been a shock, it shouldn't have had to close within a day.

"I can't understand how this could have happened overnight, I can't understand how this hasn't been thought through.

"I can't understand how a village like Ruddington, that has seen so much building in the last decade, that has had so much developer money to improve the infrastructure, has had to close its school within 24 hours.

"Something has gone dreadfully wrong."

Kelly, who has two children, aged nine and seven at the school, said she was lucky the closure had not caused her more problems.

"It was lucky that I was off work anyway so I haven't had to find extra childcare.

"For the children it's like an extension of the Christmas holidays but it does mean having to find stuff to do with them and the expense of that.

"It's worrying not knowing what is going to happen but I have every faith in the school," she said.

Dan, who has a nine-year-old son at the school, said the real problem was down to a lack of funding for maintenance.

He said: "It makes me furious. It's 30 years of underfunding from governments into the education sector.

"I work in a school myself and I see the impact of that on a daily basis."

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.