STUDENTS at Droitwich Spa High School were told to stay at home on Tuesday morning after asbestos was found in the building just before the bank holiday weekend.

Parents were sent a letter on Friday last week, letting them know that ‘background’ levels of asbestos had been discovered in parts of the main classroom block in the school, and asbestos specialists were called into the school over the three day weekend to investigate the extent of the situation.

Headteacher Natalie Waters issued another message to parents on the school’s website on Monday evening.

She said: “A firm of asbestos specialists has spent much of the weekend in the main classroom block. Although they are confident they have now cleaned it thoroughly, they are unable to identify the source of the problem. The governors have therefore decided, in a meeting held this afternoon, that they could not accept the building as being safe for normal use. They have said that they will not re-open the building until it can be shown that the risk of background asbestos will not return.”

Whilst the checks were underway, the school made the decision to ‘prioritise a ‘normal timetable’ for younger students’ while year 12 and 13 pupils were asked to study from home, with staff running their lessons through the school’s intranet or via students’ school email addresses.

An AS Graphics exam went ahead as planned in the school building, along with preparation and an exam for IGCSE English for year 11 pupils, while year eight and nine pupils were told to still receive a full programme of lessons at the school, with any changes to normal rooms prominently displayed.

Mrs Waters added: “Thank you for your forbearance in the face of this unexpected disruption. I trust you will understand that the governors have taken this cautious approach in the interests of everyone who spends time on the school site.”

A Worcestershire County Council spokesperson said: "Although Droitwich Spa High School is an academy and has responsibility for the management of asbestos in its buildings, the County Council is providing support in the form of technical and analytical services to ensure that the accommodation is safe for pupils and staff."