12 Apr 2021

High school students to study from home as classrooms close due to mould, leaks

7:12 pm on 12 April 2021

Senior students at Hutt Valley High School will be forced to study from home because so many classrooms have been closed due to toxic mould and leaks.

Bored teenager reading book at desk at home, holding his head, free space

Photo: 123RF

Thirteen classrooms, three bathrooms and one dance room are out of action at the school, affecting at least 500 students.

Hutt Valley High School acting principal Denise Johnson today told Year 12 and 13 students they would work from home two and a half days each week to help manage with the reduced number of classrooms.

"As you know, we have shut and sealed a number of classrooms. This was in response to the mould found, initially in C Block and now in other areas of the school.

"Currently there is further testing happening throughout the school and we are discussing both short and long term options."

In a letter to parents, Johnson said the plan would start from the beginning of term two.

"The immediate issue is that we can not fit classes into the reduced number of rooms we currently have, therefore, we are moving to remote learning for Y12 and Y13 students."

All students have been asked to work from home on Wednesday this week to allow teachers to prepare for the changes.

Starting from term two, Year 13 students will be at school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, while the rest of the week they will be asked to learn from home.

The same applies to Year 12 students, who will have classes on site on Wednesday afternoons, Thursdays and Fridays.

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