15 April 2016 | Jamie Harris

Edinburgh City Council has announced that early findings of building surveys shows “evidence of faults across all 17 affected schools” to varying degrees after safety issues forced their closure last week.

In a statement, council leader Andrew Burns said: “[On Wednesday evening] the council received early indications that suggest evidence of faults across all 17 affected schools to a varying extent.  At the moment it is too early to say what the impact will be, as full survey results from Edinburgh Schools Partnership have not been yet been received.  Some faults may be easy to fix and may not present a major problem while others could be longer term.”  

He added: “What is certain is that we won’t take risks with the safety of our schools’ children, and schools won’t reopen until Edinburgh Schools Partnership can assure us of their safety.  As part of the contract, Edinburgh Schools Partnership own, maintain and assure the safety of the affected buildings.”

Amey, which is the FM provider across the Edinburgh Schools Partnership schools portfolio, announced earlier this week that it is working with the Edinburgh Schools Partnership (ESP) to identify and help with additional repairs to allow 17 schools in the city to be reopened after safety issues.

The chief executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and senior education officials met directors of ESP after the collapse of a wall at a local primary led to the closure of 17 schools in the area.

House builder Galliford Try has said it takes contractual responsibility for only four of the 17 Edinburgh schools affected by closure.

Galliford acquired Miller Construction, which primarily designed and built the schools in question, in 2014. The schools, built under a £360 million deal by a consortium called the ESP, were completed in 2005. The consortium also included the Bank of Scotland.