Please note this story is two years old

A school has been forced to close on the first two days of term following health and safety concerns.

Parents expecting their children to go back to Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey this morning have been told they are not to return until Thursday.

Extensive work has been taking place over the summer holidays to install walls and subdivisions at the school, which cost £2million from the Education Funding Agency.

The open plan design of the classrooms was deemed to be inappropriate and a barrier to progress.

The work at both Minster and Sheerness sites has run behind and labourers have been on 24-hour shifts to get everything ready for the start of term.

At around 9pm yesterday, an inspection was carried out and health and safety concerns, which are not yet known, were revealed.

The school attempted to send out text messages immediately, but it was discovered the system does not work overnight - meaning many parents did not receive notification until today.

Arrangements are now being made so that students who turn up will not be sent home until a parent or guardian has been contacted.

Executive principal David Millar said in a statement on the academy's website yesterday said: "We apologise unreservedly for the inconvenience that this will cause you as families, especially given the extremely late notice, but this situation has not been apparent until late this evening."

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