CONCRETE which is at risk of crumbling has been found at a Stourbridge school - but the discovery has not delayed the start of term.

Redhill School has the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in a roof in part of the building which is not used by pupils or staff.

Pupils returned to the secondary school on Junction Road, which is part of the Stour Vale Academy Trust, as normal this week.

Redhill has been named by the Government in a list of 147 schools in England which it says have the concrete - nineteen schools have had to delay the start to the new term, according to the Department for Education.

Redhill headteacher James Clayton said the affected concrete was in the roof of part of the school's C-block.

He said: "RAAC was identified in a small section of the school that is not accessed by pupils or teaching staff, this area is locked off.

"Following the results of the survey, we have acted on the guidance from the DfE to ensure that Redhill continues to be a safe environment for all.

"We continue to work with the DfE and their team of specialists."

No local-authority run schools in the borough have been found to have the concrete and all have been surveyed.

Councillor Ruth Buttery, Dudley Council's cabinet member for children’s services and education, said: “None of our schools are closed as a result of RAAC.

"However, we have been made aware of one academy school, Redhill, which has RAAC in part of a room which is not used by pupils or staff.

"The school is open as normal.

"As a child-friendly borough we are working hard to ensure that all children have uninterrupted access to education and I am pleased that is happening.”

She added: “Whether children are in a local authority school or an academy school they are all Dudley’s children.

"Local authority schools have had surveys conducted through our corporate landlord services team.

"Academies have arranged their own, in line with the statutory guidance and reported directly to the DfE but we continue to work closely with them to ensure there is a consistent approach to children’s education across the borough.

"The best place for children is in school.”