During the summer, the college has, in conjunction with the Department for Education (DfE), undertaken a structural survey of Marple campus. The survey identified the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) within one area of the campus. RAAC is a lightweight form of concrete and because it is weaker than regular concrete, concerns have been raised about its long-term durability.
We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience the installation works may cause to parking and site restrictions and we expect lessons to continue without impact. We are asking students to take care when moving around the site and to be aware of the health and safety information. We will be working closely with the construction team to minimise the impact on our students, staff and local residents.
Whilst parking is limited on site due to the new classroom building, students who are driving to college will be asked to ensure they are considerate at all times within our community and that they follow appropriate highway code for on street parking. We would encourage all our students to utilise the free college bus or local transport services to travel to and from the campus, further information can be found on the website and from our reception team.
In line with DfE guidance, the college has taken the decision to restrict access to the affected area while we complete further surveys and if necessary, remedial works. The classrooms affected will not be in use until we are reassured that they are fit for purpose and have passed all necessary health and safety checks. We will provide further details as they become available and will keep our website regularly updated.
Please be assured that, in collaboration with the DfE, we are devising contingency measures to ensure students affected by this issue have access to specialist equipment to enable full lesson delivery and a high-quality student experience.
We appreciate the concern this may raise, and please be assured we will always prioritise the safety of our students and staff.