Lessons held in cold classrooms after heating breakdown at Gryffe High School in Renfrewshire

Pupils in Renfrewshire have been taught lessons in cold classrooms after a leak occurred in the school’s heating system.

Maggie Russell, the joint local secretary for the Renfrewshire branch of the Educational Institute of Scotland, said classes at Gryffe High in Houston were held in rooms with temperatures below 16C on Tuesday due to the fault.

The temperature is the minimum suggested guideline for heat, as provided by the Health and Safety Executive.

Mrs Russell told STV News she contacted the local authority about the problem and said it was “disappointing” that staff and pupils were forced to experience cold conditions on their first day back after the Christmas holidays.

She also claimed two other schools in the area were affected by low temperatures.

“The EIS trade union was contacted at the start of the day by several teachers in Gryffe High School in Houston, informing us that the school’s classrooms were below 16C, which is the minimum temperature recommended by the Health and Safety Executive for a teaching space”, she said.

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“We immediately alerted Renfrewshire Council health and safety officer and the head of education and were advised that the problem was being dealt with; the problem was due to a leak in the heating system.

“Engineers had been called to isolate the leak and do a temporary fix and heaters were brought into the school to improve conditions.

“We expect that working temperatures for staff and pupils will return to acceptable levels as a result of the measures taken.

“It is disappointing, however, that staff and pupils in Gryffe High and at least two other Renfrewshire schools have experienced such unpleasant and below-acceptable temperatures on the first day back after the Christmas holiday.”

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “The wellbeing of pupils and staff is our priority. Unfortunately due to winter weather, heating issues can arise.

“Action to address the issue at Gryffe High School was taken quickly, with additional heaters provided in classrooms in the interim. As temperatures increased, it was decided the best place for pupils was to remain in school.”

The Health and Safety Executive have been contacted for comment.

It comes after multiple amber and yellow weather alerts for snow and ice have been issued across the country in recent days.

In the north east, hundreds of schools are set to remain closed for a third day on Wednesday due to heavy snow.

A Met Office amber alert is in place until 7pm on Tuesday, while two yellow alerts are due to come into force on Wednesday.