St Oliver Plunkett Primary School in Strathfoyle, County Londonderry, shut its doors on Friday after water infiltrated nearly every part of the building during heavy rainfall. Principal Eamonn Moore reported that approximately 37 or 38 separate leaks emerged across classrooms, shared spaces, and other areas, forcing the school to seek an exceptional closure day to protect pupil safety.
The widespread water ingress occurred as the school undergoes roof replacement work following structural issues that have persisted for nearly five years. Moore explained that while some leaks had been patched individually over that period, the underlying roof problem had never been comprehensively addressed until this year, when engineers and architects determined a full replacement was necessary.
How did the leaks develop?
The first leak appeared at approximately 14:00 on Thursday, with additional breaches appearing progressively throughout the afternoon and evening. Moore said that water penetrated through the building's electrical systems as well as pooling on floors, creating a genuine safety hazard. The leaks affected the assembly hall, canteen, and virtually every classroom, with some described as minor while others were substantial enough to require tarpaulins and containers to catch the water.
The roof replacement project, initiated earlier in the year, has left sections of the building exposed. Part of the roof has been replaced, while another section has been covered temporarily and awaits tiling. The combination of incomplete work and adverse weather created conditions where water entered through multiple points simultaneously.
Why was the school forced to close?
Moore stated that the decision to close came only after the school had delayed as long as possible, recognising the disruption caused to families. However, once water began affecting the electrical systems and the scale of infiltration became apparent, remaining open posed an unacceptable risk.
"It would have been a safeguarding issue, and it would have been riskier to open the school than to close it, because our priority has to be the safety of the children,"Moore said.
The principal acknowledged the impact on pupils and parents but emphasised that safety considerations left no alternative. Staff had attempted to manage the situation by placing containers and tarpaulins throughout the building, but the extent of the water damage overnight remained uncertain.
What is the history of roof problems at the school?
The school, which was founded in 1975 to serve the parish of Strathfoyle, has battled roof and leak issues for nearly five years. During that period, Moore said the Education Authority responded to individual leak reports by fixing isolated problems without examining the broader structural defect.
"We have made numerous overtures to the EA regarding leaks, and what was happening was they were coming out and fixing one part at a time without ever really looking at the overall issue,"he explained.
The decision to commission structural engineers and architects represented a shift toward addressing the root cause. Their assessment concluded that roof replacement was essential, a recommendation that was approved earlier in the year. However, the phased nature of the replacement work—with sections completed, others temporarily covered, and further tiling pending—left the building vulnerable during the heavy rainfall on Thursday.
What happens next?
An emergency meeting involving Education Authority officials, the chair of governors, and roofing contractors was scheduled for Friday morning to assess the damage and plan next steps. The school said it was working towards a full reopening on Monday following the Friday closure.
What has been the reaction?
Sinn Féin councillor Alex Duffy issued a statement on Thursday evening criticising the situation.
"It is absolutely unacceptable that a school has been forced to close due to extensive leaks throughout the building, leaving classrooms and shared areas unsafe,"Duffy said, adding that
"Our children deserve safe learning environments, and school staff should never be placed in this position."
Moore expressed frustration at the school's dependence on weather conditions for operational decisions.
"It is disappointing that the school is at the mercy of heavy rainfall dictating when they can open,"he said, underscoring the urgency of completing the roof replacement work to prevent future disruptions.
Key Facts
- Approximately 37 or 38 separate water leaks were identified across the school building during heavy rainfall on Thursday
- The school has experienced roof and leak issues for nearly five years, with an approved replacement project underway since earlier in the year
- Water infiltration affected electrical systems as well as pooling on floors, creating a safeguarding concern that necessitated closure
- An emergency meeting with the Education Authority and roofing contractors was scheduled for Friday to assess damage and plan repairs
- The school aimed to reopen fully on Monday following the Friday closure
