Pupils at ‘concrete’ school learn one subject a day in church with no internet

Outraged parents have now told schools minister Diana Barran that teachers and pupils need more support.

City of Durham Labour MP Mary Kelly Foy said she had been told by Baroness Barran that “money was no barrier” and that the problem would be sorted “as soon as possible”.

The school, which has about 1,400 pupils, is using a mixture of face-to-face and online teaching after RAAC – now said to be unsafe – was found in the majority of the site’s buildings.

Head boy James Smith, 17, said sixth formers were being ferried between the nearby Radisson Blu hotel and a local church for their lessons.

He told the Daily Express: “Last week, I was being taught biology from the backroom of a church. It was like going back in time, with no Wi-Fi or heating, just a chalkboard.

“We are only being taught one subject each day and students who take practical subjects, like sciences, are being hit hard. We have no access to labs or the equipment we need to learn properly.”

Mother Amanda Race said her son has been in school for only four days this term.

She added: “There were points last week when children were on a virtual lesson with 200 other students, pretty much the whole year group, and just a couple of teachers were on the call to help them.

“The school are doing everything they can, but morale is low among pupils, parents and teachers.”

Amanda said the sports hall, a new sixth form block and the headteacher’s office are all still open.

Fellow mother Helen Smith said: “St Leonard’s is one of the top schools in the North East. Whatever happens, needs to happen as soon as possible for the sake of our children.”

Ms Foy said: “The quicker that we get something that resembles normal, the better it will be for these kids.”

A Department for Education spokesman said it was “working to bring back face-to-face education for all pupils as soon as possible”.

The DfE said it would be rebuilding the school and expects to “begin the procurement, design and planning stage before the end of the year”.