Exeter PFI School

Email sent by Alan Dransfield on 10th February 2013 at 1025 cc to various recipients

Attn of the Headteachers and Board of Governors of Exeter PFI schools

Dear Sir/Madam

Please excuse this round robin email but I wish to alert all the oversight authorities responsible for the PFI schools in Exeter that their PFI schools are operating in a legal void owing to the failure to provision the schools with adequate Lightning Protection Systems inter alia, and is further compounded by the fact these schools have not been provisioned with any Lightning Risk Assessment.

I have contacted the relevant oversight authorities, at the DCC, Dept of Education, and Ofsted but they are not taking me seriously because they know the vicarious liability rests with the Headteachers and Board of Governors. Ditto for Ben Bradshaw MP.

I would like to draw your attention to the Lychett Minster School which was destroyed by fire caused by a lightning strike over the Christmas holidays and by the grace of god nobody was hurt or killed by this particular lightning strike but in the event the thunderstorm had occurred during normal schools hours, there is no doubt in my mind body bags would have been required.
The Dorset Fire Authority report on this fire is available at their website and I recommend all Headteachers should read it for lessons learned.

I would strongly recommend that warnings signs should be made up and placed in prominent places around the your schools e.g.
IN THE EVENT OF A THUNDERSTORM IT IS RECOMMENDED TO EVACUATE THE SCHOOLS AND SEEK ALTERNATIVE SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE CHILDREN AND STAFF GATHER IN CROWDS NEAR THE WINDOWS OR NEAR THE DOORS TO WATCH THE LIGHTING.
YOU ARE ALSO WARNED NOT TO STAND NEAR LARGE STEEL STRUCTURES,EG, STAIR CASE, DOWNPIPES ETC.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE MUST YOU TOUCH THE STEEL FABRICATION OF THE SCHOOL.

I fervently believe it would be prudent of all the PFI schools' headteachers call an emergency meeting ASAP to discuss the safety of the children,staff and the General Public during a thunderstorm.. I will gladly attend free of charge to advise the schools.

In the event your school is struck be lightning, your Public Liability Insurance will surely be revoked.

With thanks

Yours sincerely

Alan M Dransfield

I would gladly inspect your Lightning Risk Assessment at no charge, to this end,please feel free to send me a copy of your Lightning Risk Assessment.

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