A school forced to partially close due to potentially unsafe concrete says government guidance is “unclear”.

Some pupils at St James' Primary in Tunbridge Wells will not be able to attend today, it was confirmed last night.

But in a letter to parents, the school says guidance by the Department for Education is (DfE) “ambiguous”.

Last week, the DfE revealed 156 schools in England are confirmed to have buildings constructed with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

But hundreds more schools in England could be affected by the crumbling material after the Prime Minister insisted 95% are unaffected.

This leaves open the possibility more than 1,000 could still be impacted by concerns over RAAC.

But Downing Street says the total number was expected to be in the hundreds rather than the thousands and the vast majority of schools would not be affected.

The letter from the DfE is ambiguous in several places and it is unclear whether the DfE consider the Institute of Structural Engineers' guidance to represent appropriate mitigation...

RAAC is a type of concrete that is prone to collapse unless safety measures are in place.

Palmarsh Primary in Hythe is closed today while St James Church of England Primary, Tunbridge Wells is partially shut, a KCC spokesman confirmed last night.

But in an email to parents, St James' has hit out at the DfE after it was sent a letter in which it explained, following some recent cases, they have taken the precautionary step of advising responsible bodies to vacate RAAC-affected buildings immediately.

The school was partially closed in the summer term while those areas of the school where RAAC was present had been strengthened "as a precautionary measure".

And the email says the work had been in "full compliance with the Institute of Structural Engineers' technical guidance".

"The letter from the DfE is ambiguous in several places and it is unclear whether the DfE consider the Institute of Structural Engineers' guidance to represent appropriate mitigation,” it added.

"The DfE's updated guidance does not offer definition or specification for 'appropriate mitigation'."

KCC said last night it has been working with the DfE, responsible bodies and schools throughout the summer term and holidays to ensure schools in Kent that have RAAC have “appropriate mitigations in place”.

“These mitigations fully comply with the requirements of the Institute of Structural Engineers,” the authority said in a statement.

“It is disappointing that this afternoon KCC and some affected schools have received letters from the DfE in which they explain that following some recent cases they have taken the precautionary step of advising responsible bodies to vacate RAAC-affected buildings immediately, even in cases where the confirmed RAAC would have previously been deemed ‘non-critical’ unless appropriate mitigations are in place.

“It is unclear whether the DfE’s advice is based on new information which will require further mitigation in Kent schools, in excess of that currently required by the Institute of Structural Engineers.

“While this is clarified with the DfE we have taken a safety-first approach and advised schools to take RAAC-affected areas out of use immediately.

“As a consequence, Palmarsh Primary will be closed [today] and some pupils at St James Church of England Primary, in Tunbridge Wells, will not be able to attend school [today].

“The two schools will be notifying parents [yesterday evening].

“We do not believe that any areas of these schools are in imminent danger, but until the DfE clarifies its letter, we will not take any chances.

“We will try to provide an update and further information [today].”

Meanwhile, others identified with RAAC and needing remedial works are Sunnybank Primary, Sittingbourne; Godinton Primary, Ashford; St Bartholomew’s Catholic Primary School, Swanley; Birchington Church of England Primary and King Ethelbert Secondary School, also in Birchington, Thanet.

King Ethelbert head teacher Tom Sellen says he wrote to parents on Friday to reassure them pupils will be in school for the first day of term having their usual timetable in all year groups.

“The safety and welfare of our students has always been our priority and will continue to be so,” he said.

“We will also continue to deliver high-quality education to all the students who attend our wonderful school.”

Since RAAC was discovered at the school, four temporary classrooms have been installed, which include science laboratories so practical lessons can continue.

It has also secured a second and third phase of temporary classrooms, which it says will be delivered to the site in “the very near future”.

A statement issued by the school yesterday says it, along with the Coast Academics Trust, is working with the Department for Education to look at a “more permanent solution”, which will include some new buildings.

The trust’s chief executive, Kate Greig, said: “We are already working with the DfE to make sure the temporary accommodation is indeed temporary and our students are soon in new classrooms which they absolutely deserve to be.

“Sir Roger Gale, our local MP, has been massively helpful and supportive to King Ethelbert and with his help, we are confident we will have new buildings in place shortly.”

Meanwhile, part of Godinton Primary School’s hall and some surrounding rooms and corridors have been out of action since mid-June due to RAAC.

They are set to be no-go zones until mitigation work is completed.

Headteacher Jill Talbot says the work is scheduled to start next week and has been arranged through Kent County Council.

“No classrooms are affected and the children’s learning is unaffected,” she said.

“A marquee has been in place on the school field since June and is currently acting as the school hall for lunches and assemblies.

“Since 2019, about 60% of the RAAC in the school has already been removed and an extensive roof replacement has already been completed.

“We have worked pro-actively with surveyors to risk assess and to determine the work required to keep everyone safe.

“The safety of our school community has always been of paramount concern and parents have been fully informed at all stages since 2019.

“This is not a new story for us and this information is in the public domain.”

KentOnline reported earlier this year five sites in the county were affected by the issue – with some having to move lessons into marquees.

This website also previously revealed how concerns over RAAC originated at a school in Gravesend in 2018.

The fears over the dangers of particular buildings collapsing have also influenced decisions on which hospitals across the country have received funding.