The government has been accused of “a complete dereliction of duty” over the state of school buildings in England after a woman sustained a serious head injury when a large piece of cladding fell off while she was waiting to pick up her children.
The incident at Dore primary school in Sheffield, which was raised in the House of Commons on Monday, came at a time of growing concern about the deteriorating condition of the school estate, and warnings that some buildings are in danger of collapse.
The injured woman had to take three weeks off work, has undergone an MRI scan and has tinnitus as a result of the incident in January. “I did not see it come off. I heard a bit of a crack, and then something hit me in the face,” she said.
Carla, who did not wish to give her full name, was waiting in front of the school for her two children, aged eight and 10, near one of the exits used by pupils, when the 12-15ft-long fascia board with 4in nails fell off and struck her on the head.
“It is horrifying that we’ve got to this point,” she said. “Our children’s school buildings are literally falling apart and it feels like it is only a matter of time before something even more serious happens.
