Engineers are to carry out inspections in schools across the north-east after council chiefs in Edinburgh were forced to close 17 sites amid safety fears.
The schools in the capital were all built under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, in which developers pay construction costs up front and charge local authorities an annual fee in return.
But more than 7,000 pupils have been unable to return to the classroom after buildings faults were discovered.
Now education officials in Aberdeen have confirmed that engineers will inspect 10 schools built under PPP in Aberdeen, while Aberdeenshire Council is “considering the requirement” for similar action at its nine sites.
NHS Grampian has also called for reassurances that its health centres have not been affected by similar issues.
None of the 19 schools in the north-east were built by Miller Construction – the developer at the heart of the Edinburgh crisis – but health centres
Woodside in Aberdeen and at Forres were.
Last night Aberdeen City Council’s education convener, Councillor Angela Taylor, said the authority would send engineers to inspect all the schools built under the scheme for problems this week.
She said: “I would stress that this is purely a precautionary measure and we haven’t any indication the schools are unsafe in anyway.
“I don’t think it is necessarily the funding model at fault.”
A spokeswoman confirmed that “as a matter of precaution” officers have organised a series of structural tests. The tests will take place this week during the school holidays.
And a spokeswoman for Aberdeenshire Council added that its school estate is regularly inspected and reported to councillors and the Scottish Government.
“We can assure Aberdeenshire communities that due diligence has taken place in our facilities programmes and we are confident in the design and construction process for our schools on which we work closely with contractors,” she said.
“We are considering any requirement for further inspection.”
PFI/PPP schools within Aberdeen
- Airyhall Primary
- Bucksburn Primary
- Bucksburn Academy
- Braehead Primary
- Cults Academy
- Hazlehead Primary
- Heathryburn Primary
- Kaimhill Primary
- Manor Park Primary
- Mile End Primary
And in Aberdeenshire:
- Banff Primary
- Hill of Banchory Primary
- Kintore Primary
- Longside Primary
- Meldrum Academy
- Meldrum Primary
- Portlethen Academy
- Rothienorman Primary
- Rosehearty Primary
