PUPILS returned to school at the St Ambrose and Buchanan High campus this morning – but teachers represented by the NASUWT union remain on strike, meaning that a number of Buchanan pupils had to stay at home on the first day of term.
An independent review took place over the summer to investigate health concerns at the site including a number of cancer cases among staff; and its findings, published on Friday, concluded that “the schools and site are safe” after soil and water testing.
St Ambrose opened fully as planned for the new school year, but the ongoing strike action involving 36 members of staff meant that some pupils at Buchanan – which caters for youngsters with additional support needs – were unable to attend.
Derek Brown, who is North Lanarkshire Council’s executive director of education and families, said: “Despite positive discussions with NASUWT officials, the union has been unable to confirm that their members will return to work in time for the return of pupils. That is regrettable.
“The council will never take risks with pupil safety. While there will be a limited impact for St Ambrose High School, we are able to provide education for all pupils.
“For Buchanan High, the needs of the pupils are such that we have carried out detailed individual assessments based on specific needs; and as a result, a very small number of pupils will be unable to attend school for the first day of term.
“We fully understand the impact on those pupils and their parents and are sorry they find themselves in this position.”
Council officials say that further updates for tomorrow and beyond “will be announced in due course”.
Mr Brown said: “During our discussions with NASUWT, we listened to the concerns expressed by their members [and] the council was able to answer a number of questions.
“We reiterated the central findings of the independent review about the safety of the schools andd reinforced our commitment to implementing all of the recommendations quickly.
“We welcome the positive spirit in which these talks were carried out and look forward to further discussions over the next 24 hours.”
He added: “We are pleased that the independent review found that the schools and campus were safe and that there was no connection between the schools and any illness.
“I would also like to record the council’s appreciation of staff, parents and pupils during what has been a difficult time for these schools. The council is determined to move on positively and collaboratively and we look forward to doing so.”
NASUWT officials wrote to the local authority with questions on both Friday and Monday following publication of the review report, and say they and their experts are considering its findings.
Acting general secretary Chris Keates told the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser on Monday: “The strike action at Buchanan and St Ambrose remains in place and resumed as scheduled.
“Our experts and legal counsel are examining the site report and we are awaiting their advice on the next steps. We have also posed some interim questions to the council and we are waiting for answers to those.”
Parents dropping their children at school for today’s first day of term shared their responses to the review and its conclusions on the health concerns with the Advertiser.
Harry Ross, whose son was starting fourth year, said: “I’m quite comfortable with the school and have no complaints – I don’t think they’d put people into the school if it was unsafe.”
One mum of a second-year pupil, who did not wish to be named, said: “I had taken my daughter out at the end of last term because of the illness reports, and she missed three weeks at school.
“When the report came out I was sceptical; I don’t believe it but what are you going to do other than look elsewhere? This is a really good school and others didn’t seem an option.
“You want to believe the report but I just feel they don’t know, not 100 per cent.”
Brian Hartie, the parent of a fifth-year pupil, said: “I never thought they were going to have to close school down; the report said yes, there are some problems but we’re going to fix it anyway.
“One line in the report made me put my head in hands, which is that the water is blue because of copper but that it doesn’t cause cancer – but what other health issues could it cause. My daughter won’t touch the water and has her own with her.
“We now have to trust that they’ll do what they said they’ll do. I don’t think the council handled it well at all – it should have been for them to flag up problems instead of parents doing so.”
Another mum said: “My two kids have always been at school and haven’t missed a day – you’ll always get people who aren’t happy with the answers, but you’ll never please everybody.”
