Catholic primary caught up in school building safety row

A Catholic primary, St Peter’s in Morningside district, is one of 17 Edinburgh schools that will not reopen after the Easter break after the discovery of structural problems, and fears that pupil and staff safety was compromised, writes Brian Morton.

Concerns about the integrity of school buildings were raised after the collapse of a wall at Oxgangs Primary School. All the schools concerned were built under a private partnership contract with Miller Construction, acquired by Galliford Try in 2014.

A Catholic parent, who preferred not to be named, said: “There will be an inevitable attempt to make this a political issue … but the bottom line is: are our kids safe? And are they going to get a proper schooling?”

A letter sent to parents and carers at St Peter’s, Oxgangs and Braidburn schools by Andy Gray, Edinburgh Council’s head of schools and lifelong learning, apologised for the school closures, but conceded that the situation remained fluid and that it might not be possible to inspect and re-open all schools in time for the summer exams.