大象传媒

Students and staff at the King Edmund School in Rochford have been told they won't return to school at the beginning of January because work to remove asbestos on the site has been delayed.

The Department for Education said further excavation is required but the icy weather we experienced last week meant the completion was put back, meaning the return date is likely to be 23 January instead.

A Department for Education spokesperson said:
听
鈥淎lthough works to remove contaminated rubble from the site were expected to be completed by the end of the year, further excavation is required and the icy weather conditions mean听the completion of听removal works and subsequent testing听has been delayed.听
听
听鈥淲e are continuing to push for the works to be completed as quickly as possible. We are working with the school, other local schools and academy trusts, and Essex County Council on the education offer for the first few weeks of term, ensuring as many pupils as possible benefit from face to face learning.鈥�

大象传媒 Essex's Sonia Watson spoke to Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, Mark Francois.

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