Work to repair damage caused by Storm Darragh at Hawarden High School gets underway

Work to repair damage caused by Storm Darragh at Hawarden High School has commenced and will continue over the Christmas holidays, Flintshire County Council has confirmed.

High winds on Saturday brought down a large tree, which severed several overhead cables attached to the school’s gable wall.

The resulting strain caused a section of the wall to collapse.

Representatives from Flintshire County Council met with headteacher Simon Budgen on Sunday to assess the damage and implement safety measures.

A decision was made to close the school on Monday to allow for further inspections by a structural engineer.

On Monday, a specialist consultant confirmed that the damaged section of the wall, as well as three other gables, were structurally safe.

Scaffolding was erected, and the building was water- and windproofed to prevent additional damage.

Flintshire County Council has announced that permanent repairs will be carried out during the Christmas holidays to minimise disruption to the school’s operations.

Headteacher Simon Budgen said: “The primary focus has been on ensuring the school is safe and ready to welcome pupils and staff back as quickly as possible, and I’m pleased this has been achieved. I’m grateful to Flintshire County Council and the structural engineers for their swift and professional response, as well as to our whole school community for their patience and support. We look forward to resuming normal routines whilst permanent repair work is carried out over the Christmas break.”

The school reopened as planned, with council officials and engineers continuing to monitor the site to ensure safety as the repairs progress.