![Sir Frederick Gibberd College is among the three schools with structural integrity problems](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2023/08/24/TELEMMGLPICT000346560756_16929056981940_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqqVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwVVuduJKBIVmdsWxwOVYZQY.jpeg?imwidth=680)
Firm given £40m contract builds schools 'unable to withstand high winds'
Three sites advised not to reopen in September, with pupils to be taught in temporary classrooms
![Sir Frederick Gibberd College is among the three schools with structural integrity problems](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2023/08/24/TELEMMGLPICT000346560756_16929056981940_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqqVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwVVuduJKBIVmdsWxwOVYZQY.jpeg?imwidth=680)
A construction company awarded more than £40 million in Government contracts built schools unable to withstand high winds, a minister has said.
Three schools built by Caledonian Modular have been advised not to reopen in the autumn term because they are unsafe.
They include Sir Frederick Gibberd College, a secondary school in Harlow, Essex; Haygrove School, in Bridgwater, Somerset; and Buckton Fields Primary School, in Northampton.
Nick Gibb, the schools minister, told BBC Essex that the Department for Education requested a structural survey of the buildings because of concerns about the construction company.
He said: “It identified issues that related to the structural integrity of the buildings, weakening its ability for example to withstand extreme events such as high winds or a big snowfall or indeed a collision from a vehicle.”
The department confirmed that the building contractor for all three schools was Caledonian Modular, which is no longer in business.
The Government said that it has launched an investigation into the company, which was awarded more than £40 million to build schools.
Pupils at Sir Frederick Gibberd College will start the autumn term on Sept 11 in temporary classrooms. GCSE students will be taken by coach to neighbouring secondary schools for specialist science and design and technology lessons, the school said.
Preston Hedges Trust, which runs Buckton Fields, has said that it will move pupils to another school that it also operates until October half-term, Schools Week reported.
The Government is installing temporary classrooms for pupils at Haygrove. In a statement, the school said: “Since we first occupied the main building, we have been assured by the DfE that it was safe for our students and staff.
“However, it is with huge disappointment that we today informed our school community that the DfE has decided, following its surveys, that we are not able to use the main school building until further notice.”
A department spokesman said: “Nothing is more important than the health and safety of pupils and teachers, which is why we assess school buildings regularly to make sure they meet our high standards.
“Following surveys conducted at our request, we have identified concerns with building work carried out by a specific contractor that is no longer in business.
“We are working closely with school leaders on temporary measures to safely accommodate pupils and minimise the disruption to their learning.”