A Falkirk Council spokesperson said:

The decision to close Maddiston Primary School follows a thorough structural assessment of the building following recent storm damage to the roof.  

“Initially, mitigation measures were put in place to allow the school to remain operational. However, as investigations by engineers continued, additional concerns about the condition of the building’s stonework became apparent.  

“There was no cause to believe these defects were in existence prior to discovery until the intrusive engineering checks were carried out. 

“As soon as we became aware of the extent of repairs required and the level of work involved, the decision was made to close the school immediately. 

“The extent of safety measures required (fencing, removal of outdoor spaces, construction traffic, etc) so that repair works can be carried out are significant and cannot be conducted without major impact to the operation of the school.   

“The safety of pupils, staff, and visitors remains our top priority, and arrangements have been put in place to ensure that all pupils can continue their education at alternative schools across the area from Monday 24 February 2025. 

“The relocation involves all 490 pupils from Maddiston Primary School who are being moved into the most appropriate setting for their learning and will maintain the same number of learning hours. 48 teaching and support staff will also be based in the new settings. 

“This is a major logistical piece of work that staff across all the schools involved have worked tirelessly over the past 48 hours to prepare for and to ensure pupils are in the best learning environment for the coming months.  

“Many practical arrangements are being put in place for issues such as free transport, catering, class learning, ICT and pastoral support - all of which will be transferred to the nearby schools or brought in if required.  

“Schools will work together to timetable the available resources, so that all pupils receive continuity in their learning and have access to all of the required resources. 

“We are confident that we can deliver a full learning experience for pupils throughout this period and that pupils will not be disadvantaged by the temporary change of circumstances. 

“Further investigatory work is taking place at the school as well as extensive record checking to get a better assessment as to the background to this situation. 

“At this stage, our priority is to ensure that all children can continue with their education. We will also explore whether there are any legal or contractual implications, at an appropriate point.