PUPILS settling back into class at Moffat Academy after a leak from a machine flooded parts of the school, causing ‘significant damage’.
Staff arrived on site on Monday to find water had been pouring out all weekend and classrooms and corridors were flooded, carpets sodden and electrical equipment damaged.
Headteacher Tara Woods explained what had happened at Moffat Community Council on Tuesday night, saying: “On Monday morning our janitorial team discovered that there had been a water leak from the purification machine used in science to make de-ionised water.
“There was significant flooding to the adjacent rooms and the rooms below.
“Unfortunately where this room is situated there’s ICT rooms below and home economics rooms right next to that.
“Where this leak has happened there has been some significant damage caused to the building.
“When we went in on Monday there was maybe three or four inches of water. It was pretty bad.”
She said it was all hands on deck for the clear up, praising the janitors and cleaners for their efforts and saying: “The staff were brilliant, and we just set out to save as many resources as we could.”
“Our facilities people AMEY
were fantastic in coming and supporting us,” said Mrs Woods. “When we came in today (Tuesday) there was still some seepage happening as residual water finds its way.
“But the key thing is waiting for fire sensor safety checks and electrical safety checks. Our building facilities team were not able to secure that today.
“We are trying to minimise the impact on young people and their families as much as we can, but the health and safety of the building is our absolute priority.”
Although lessons have not been able to go ahead as usual for the academy students, Mrs Woods said they had put contingency plans in place, with school trips and using another part of the building for senior phase induction yesterday.
Meanwhile, exams for the S4-6s continued on scheduled as the assembly hall was unaffected.
Also running as normal were the primary and nursery side of the school, which are totally separate.
The head added: “The community have been brilliant in their understanding and supporting us through this.”
