Teachers 'allergic' to school building

Feb 15 2006 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

A MYSTERY allergy has forced seven members of staff to leave a £5 million state-of-the-art Midlands school.

Angela Duncan, headteacher at The Meadows School in Dudley Road East, Oldbury, became unwell shortly after the school opened in 2004.

Now six other staff are also claiming they are allergic to the building and are all working elsewhere in Sandwell.

Doctors have said Mrs Duncan is allergic to materials used in the construction of the school. Other teachers have since complained about similar symptoms and breathing problems.

Sandwell Council has ordered a number of tests to be carried out at the school, which caters for pupils with profound learning difficulties, but the cause is still unknown.

Education spokesman Coun Ian Jones said in a statement: "We have thoroughly investigated to see what could be causing reported respiratory problems among staff. So far we have no definite answers."

Coun Jones said "exhaustive" investigations had been carried out by independent experts, including occupational health and environmental specialists.

He added: "Our primary concern is the well-being of pupils and staff. All the experts are clear that there is absolutely no reason why pupils and staff cannot continue to enjoy the excellent education at The Meadows."

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