Baroness Barran, the Department for Education Minister responsible for school and college buildings, visited The Blue School in Wells following serious structural concerns that came to light over the Christmas period.

The school is currently grappling with a prolonged period of disruption, with the full return of all pupils not expected until Easter at the earliest.

Wells MP James Heappey and officials from the Department for Education accompanied the Minister on her visit. They were hosted by Headteacher Mark Woodlock and Jonathan Brown, the Chair of the school's governors, who guided them through the affected areas and potential sites for temporary classrooms.

The structural issues at The Blue School centre around the Kennion Building, a key part of the school's infrastructure, which was found to have cracked concrete ceilings and floors during an inspection last summer.

This discovery led to the closure of 20 classrooms, significantly impacting the school's capacity.

In response to these challenges, the school has been implementing contingency measures, including plans for the installation of temporary classrooms while investigative work continues on the Kennion Building to determine if it can be repaired and made safe for use.

James Heappey MP, following the visit said: "I am grateful to the Minister for taking the time to come to Wells and see the issues the school is facing," he said. "Parents, teachers, and the Government all share a desire to minimise the amount of time students spend away from school which is why the school's leadership team and officials from the Department for Education are working at such pace to deliver temporary accommodation."

He also confirmed his ongoing commitment to supporting The Blue School, stating, "I will continue to join the weekly update meetings to support the school in accessing whatever resources they need."