Thomas Bullock Primary in Dereham forced to put hall in tent

Thomas Bullock Primary Academy in Shipdham was forced to close its hall just days before the new academic year following last-minute changes to government guidance around reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Since then it has been operating without an assembly hall so work can be carried out to remove the concrete and rebuild its roof.

However, the school has now been forced into a temporary solution after it emerged the works were more complicated than first thought.

A marquee has been put up on part of the school playing field which will serve as a temporary assembly hall until the roof repairs are complete.

The tent is fully heated and lit inside and will be used for all of the activities previously carried out in the hall.

These include assemblies, lunches, sports and collective worship.

In a letter to parents, headteacher Shannon O'Sullivan wrote: "Since the start of the year, our school has had to adjust to not having a hall.

"Throughout this period our curriculum has never once faltered. Our staff and children are second to none in the way they have adapted, without complaint.

"We cannot guarantee everything will run as it always has done in the coming months, but our curriculum will continue to rigorously drive ahead for our children and a further adventure and experience awaits them too."

The crisis unfolded just days before the new academic year and saw hundreds of schools close, or partially close, across the country.

However, the school near Dereham was the only one in Norfolk found to have the controversial building material on site.

It was forced to postpone the start of the autumn term by a day while failsafe measures were put in place.