Pupils and teaching staff at modular-built Sir Frederick Gibberd College have been told that the school will close with immediate effect following an investigation by the Department for Education, which identified structural irregularities
The modular-built school, constructed by Caledonian Modular, is the latest school involved in safety concerns.
Two schools built by the modular construction company were only partly built after Caledonian Modular fell into administration in March 2022.
Sir Frederick Gibberd College was involved in a technical survey by the DfE in April, which raised subsequent concerns over the safety of the structure of the school.
A further risk assessment was delivered to the Trust last week, and the DfE was unable to verify the structural safety of the building, which led to the closure of the school.
Sir Frederick Gibberd College undertook a ‘full turnkey scheme’ for the DfE to provide 1,700 school places in Harlow.
The three-storey modular-built school was constructed to replace the former Passmores Secondary School. A new sports block, an all-weather floodlit hockey pitch, a MUGA, football and rugby pitches, and playing fields were also newly built.
With just weeks before students are due to return, the school have shared that teaching will continue, but the Autumn term will start at a later date.
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