Over 30 Derby school kitchens ordered to close due to health and safety fears

One school governor said it was the latest in a council scheme to get schools to agree to sign up to a "revamped" meals service. The head teacher at Bemrose Community School said they were told at 7.30 yesterday morning that they could no longer use their appliances in the kitchen. However bread and cheese have been given to some schools, the Benrose Community School included, so they could make sandwiches. However the head Jo Ward said there were no fillings and they began to run out over the lunch time period. Ward said: "I do not understand why the decision has been made so suddenly, giving us no chance to prepare and what the problem is." The council also said the "sudden order" was due to safety inspections revealing problems with gas appliances in a number of schools. A city spokesperson added: "This is a health and safety problem which relates to gas leaks on appliances. Sample audits in some schools identified a higher-than-expected proportion of leaks." "Follow-up gas safety inspections will be completed urgently in all remaining schools but, until then, the kitchens we have identified so far must be closed to ensure the safety of pupils, teachers and kitchen staff. "We are endeavouring to make hot meals available for schools as soon as possible but cannot give a date at this stage. In the short-term, sandwiches will be provided."