TESTING for asbestos at a school closed after traces of the deadly fibre was found on the premises have been completed.

The King Edmund School in Rochford was told it had to close closed on the evening of Monday, November 14 after contractors working in the school found “traces of asbestos”.

The workmen, contracted by the Department for Education, found the asbestos in the rubble of an old school building demolished in May.

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The school is now set to be closed until the New Year as crews work to remove the rest of the asbestos and rubble.

Yesterday, the House of Commons was today told by Minister of State for Schools Nick that testing for further asbestos across the school has now been completed – with no further asbestos found.

Rochford and Southend East MP Sir James Duddridge had raised the issue, asking: “King Edmund School in the constituency of my right honourable friend, the member for Rayleigh and Wickford, is currently closed while building materials containing asbestos are removed from the site.

“Will the ministerial team look into this situation with a view to getting kids safely back to school as quickly as possible.”

Mr Gibb responded: “Yes, I certainly will. The school was initially closed as a precaution while we carry out enhanced testing. Testing is now complete, and the school buildings are safe.

“But, asbestos on the site of the previously demolished building remains so the school will remain closed whilst it is removed but we are doing everything possible to ensure that the school site reopens by January 3.”

The building project, which will see a new 30-clasroom block built on the site, is being led by the DfE which identified the need for a replacement building as part of its Building Schools for the Future initiative.

The building area and all aspects of the demolition and construction is under the responsibility of the DfE and not the school.

Surveys were carried out before demolition of the old building was undertaken and the DfE was given assurances by a previous contractor that identified asbestos would be removed in a safe way.

The asbestos was discovered after another survey of the site was undertaken after the DfE’s new contractor raised a concern about potential asbestos in the rubble of the demolished block.