An independent inquiry is to be conducted by Edinburgh Council into the construction problems which forced 17 schools to be shut.
All schools in the city built during the PFI1 scheme in 2001 to 2004 were closed at Easter after defects were found in the walls of the buildings. Thousands of pupils were displaced, and those schools which were completely rebuilt under the PFI scheme remain closed while repairs are carried out.
After reading the report from the private consortium who own and maintain the schools, the city’s Corporate Policy and Strategy Committee has agreed to launch the inquiry, which will be chaired by “an independent senior figure”. The inquiry is expected to commence once the schools reopen after the summer holidays.
Council leader Andrew Burns said the chair would be someone who “commands respect” in the construction industry. “The terms of reference will be thorough and we want the report to get to the heart of this issue and see what lessons can be learnt, not just here in Edinburgh, but across Scotland,” he said. All of the schools, which are about 10 years old, were built by Miller Construction under the same £360m PPP contract.
Miller Construction, together with Amey, was part of the ESP consortium contract. In 2001 ESP won the £360m deal to design, build and maintain the 17 schools for 30 years. Miller Construction was acquired by Galliford Try in 2014.
Eight schools are expected to reopen in the coming weeks with Oxgangs Primary, St Peter’s and Braidburn being the first ones to reopen to pupils on 24 May.
