Redhill School has been identified as having reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in a roof in part of a building which is not used by pupils or staff.

The school has been named by the Government in a list of 147 schools in England which it says have the concrete - nineteen schools have had to delay the start to the new term, according to the Department for Education. Headteacher James Clayton said:

"RAAC was identified in a small section of the school that is not accessed by pupils or teaching staff, this area is locked off. Following the results of the survey, we have acted on the guidance from the DfE to ensure that Redhill continues to be a safe environment for all.

"We continue to work with the DfE and their team of specialists."

No local-authority run schools in Dudley have been found to have the concrete and all have been surveyed. Councillor Ruth Buttery, Dudley Council's cabinet member for children’s services and education, added:

“None of our schools are closed as a result of RAAC. However, we have been made aware of one academy school, Redhill, which has RAAC in part of a room which is not used by pupils or staff. The school is open as normal.

"As a child-friendly borough we are working hard to ensure that all children have uninterrupted access to education and I am pleased that is happening.

“Whether children are in a local authority school or an academy school they are all Dudley’s children. "Local authority schools have had surveys conducted through our corporate landlord services team.

"Academies have arranged their own, in line with the statutory guidance and reported directly to the DfE but we continue to work closely with them to ensure there is a consistent approach to children’s education across the borough."