A SPECIAL school in Southend will find out shortly if it needs to be “completely rebuilt” after the finding of crumbling concrete, a government minister confirms.

Kingsdown School, in Snakes Lane, was ordered to close by the Department of Education with “immediate effect” in September.

This was after the discovery of crumbling concrete Raac.

As a result, the school was left operating out of just ten classrooms, after it was forced to close more than 50 per cent of the facilities due to Raac.

Despite the school reopening, a number of crucial facilities remain unavailable including the swimming pool, music room as well as catering spaces.

Anna Firth, MP for Southend West, has been campaigning to make Kingsdown School a “priority” for repairs due to it being a special school.

In the House of Commons yesterday, Ms Firth, confirmed remediation works is now underway at Kingsdown, but the school is still waiting on survey results from the government ton the extent of Raac.

She said: “I welcome remediation work on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete—RAAC—is now under way at Kingsdown School, meaning that parts of the school will be open from half term.

“However, the school has still not had confirmation, given the extent of the RAAC, on whether there will be a rebuild of the school.

“This uncertainty is affecting remediation, expansion and recruitment plans. Please could we have that confirmation for the school as soon as possible?”

In response, Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education, said the school should find out “shortly”.

She said: “I know that my hon. Friend has campaigned tirelessly for Kingsdown School.

“Our questionnaire programme is 100 per cent complete, all schools have been told if it is suspected that they might have RAAC and 100 per cent of those have been surveyed.

“I can confirm we will be removing RAAC from our schools for good, either through the school rebuilding programme or through grant funding, and we will inform schools shortly, once our assessments have concluded.

“I know that my hon. Friend has met Baroness Barran to discuss Kingsdown School and is meeting again this week.”