Abraham Darby Academy principal unable to state opening date

The principal of Abraham Darby Academy in Telford today said he was unable to confirm if the new school would still be ready to open in January.

It comes after a steel roof at the site in Madeley collapsed last Thursday injuring five workers from developers Kier Group. The £35 million academy is being built on the site of the existing school in Madeley.

Today principal Steve Hawke said the incident had left a 'black mark' against the project and he was in the dark over when the site would be completed.

But he reassured the school that they would overcome the incident. "It's had a black mark against it but I'm certain it will be sorted out," said Mr Hawke.

"It's just a shame but it will still be the most amazing building. There is a sense of shock and disappointment at a personal level.

"You don't expect this kind of thing to happen but it's just going to be the most magical building when it's completed.

"I haven't got an answer as to when work will start again, until the Health & Safety Executive have finished their investigation we won't know, and we don't know how long that will take."

However, pupils will be able to return to the existing school on Monday for the new term. "We are going to be able to start the new term on time as part of the work taking place was at the front of the existing building," added Mr Hawke.

"That has been allowed to continue and we are on schedule to finish at the end of this week. It's business as usual. I'm not going to make a crisis out of it.

"There's not a lot I can tell the children as the contractors haven't got a lot they can tell me.

"I have written to parents once and told them everything I know, as soon as there is more to say I will contact them again.

"Apart from the disappointment there's a sense of relief that the five men who were injured have been released from hospital, and there wasn't five more injured."

By Paul Mannion