A Thanet school has been forced to close for two days while engineers assess a roof – with parents told only late the night before.

Bosses at Birchington C of E Primary have warned the engineer works will be “extremely disruptive” to pupils and parents.

The closure comes after the Department for Education recently advised the school, based in Park Lane, to temporarily shut following structural reports.

Parents were reportedly told late last night about the arrangements in an email, with the school saying the circumstances are “completely beyond their control”.

Speaking on behalf of the school, a Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson told KentOnline: “After a successful bid to the DfE’s Priority School Building Programme, DfE structural engineers visited Birchington C of E Primary School on Monday 12 June 2023.

“KCC was notified by the DfE that based on their initial evaluations following a change in guidance from the Institute of Structural Engineers, their recommendation is for the school to be closed to allow for further evaluation.

We appreciate this will be extremely disruptive for pupils, staff and parents

“We appreciate this will be extremely disruptive for pupils, staff and parents. We are working closely with the DfE and the school to enable the school to reopen at the soonest opportunity.

“The school will however initially be closed for two days with a further update for parents and carers before the weekend tomorrow on any necessary logistical change to teaching arrangements around a schedule of works.”

Pupils will be able to access home learning toolkits while away from the school.