Pupils sent home after pipes burst

Pupils preparing for exams will remain in school

More than 300 children have been sent home from their school in Carmarthenshire because of heating problems.

One of the main buildings at Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn has been closed after a fractured pipe was discovered on Wednesday.

We have tried to cater for our exam pupils who can't afford to miss lessons

Ian McCloy, headteacher

The pupils, aged between 11 and 14, have been told to stay home on Friday as well - the remaining 350 pupils at the school can still attend classes.

The school is due to be fully reopened on Monday.

Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn headteacher Ian McCloy said pupils who were preparing for exams had been prioritised during the closure.

"We have decided to close half the school and educate our exam classes," he said.

"We are sorry for any inconvenience - we have tried to cater for our exam pupils who can't afford to miss lessons," he added.

'Unfortunate'

Mr McCloy said staff were able to keep one of the buildings open.

"There is a fractured pipe in the water system and there has been no heating in our two main blocks as a result," he said.

"We can isolate one of them and the heating is back on in the other block.

"It is unfortunate, but it means we can't accommodate all pupils.

"The other classes will return to school on Monday," he added.

Pupils were given letters to inform their parents of the problem after staff held talks with Carmarthenshire County Council education officers on Wednesday.