Parents demand further action after health watchdog probe into asbestos complaints at Lancaster school

Worried parents are continuing to fight for answers after the health and safety regulator investigated concerns over asbestos debris found at a Lancaster school.

Demands have been made for a full public inquiry after the debris was discovered in the Ashton Block at Ripley St Thomas C of E School following works which took place in the building last year.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), after investigating the incident, said: “We received several concerns about work at the school and took appropriate action to ensure it could be occupied safely."

But parents who spoke to Beyond Radio have not accepted the HSE's findings, and are calling for the school to disclose all documents relating to the asbestos incident, an independent re-inspection of the Ashton Block, and an open public meeting between the school and parents so questions can be answered.

They are worried because breathing in fibres from damaged or disturbed asbestos can lead to serious health conditions including cancer, with symptoms often not appearing until decades later.

The Ashton Block, which houses classrooms for music and Religious Education, was closed during asbestos removal work in summer 2025, then reopened in September 2025.

The block was closed again after tests confirmed that debris found in a ceiling void and on top of a whiteboard contained asbestos.

After the block reopened to staff and students, debris was then discovered again in a ceiling void in November 2025 with tests again confirming the presence of asbestos in the material.

The HSE said they "found the asbestos removal was carried out by a licensed contractor and appropriately checked, and the school acted to address asbestos-containing debris when identified and has since updated its management arrangements".

The school also wrote to parents on July 22 saying that "numerous reassurance air tests which deemed that the building remained safe for occupation" had been carried out.

“The safety and wellbeing of pupils, staff and visitors is always our highest priority, and we understand the concerns that have been raised and have taken this matter very seriously," said a spokesperson for Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy, which is run by the Bay Learning Trust.

“We have engaged fully with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) throughout this matter who confirmed that it was satisfied that the school had taken all appropriate action, worked with qualified experts and followed recommendations.”

Dr Tai-Chung Lam, a parent and a clinical oncology consultant specialising in the treatment of mesothelioma  - a cancer which can be caused by exposure to fibres released from damaged asbestos products - said he felt the HSE response was "extremely disappointing".

"We are very concerned because children use that building," said Dr Lam.

"We want transparency, especially from the period September to November 2025, about how (the school) handled it and made sure the building is clean.

"They need to disclose all the important documents. It's completely unacceptable not to.

"We need to make sure that building is safe. We are demanding a reinspection of the whole building, to ensure safety.

"It really makes me angry. That building is occupied by students and staff.

"They also need to hold a forum and they need to face questions."

An online petition backing this, set up by 'Concerned members of the Ripley community', has had more than 200 signatures, as we went to press.

Another parent, who wished to remain anonymous, told Beyond Radio they felt "fobbed off" by the school.

"I feel the risk to our children is quite considerable and I don't think they are taking parents' concerns seriously enough," the parent said.

"We keep getting these statements saying 'please don't worry'. But I need clarification in writing, from the asbestos duty holder and the HSE, that the building is safe."

And another parent told us: "Writing letters to say it's been done properly, isn't enough.

"There are things they could do. If they are so certain about it, that they've done everything, they should get another dust test done to assure everybody that there's no exposure.

"It's our children's health and safety."

We have also been contacted by two other parents of Ripley students who had similar concerns.

Another person who contacted us, who wished to remain anonymous, has raised a high level 'Tier 3' complaint with the HSE after a previous 'Tier 2' complaint was not upheld.

Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Wyre (below), said she has met with parents and teachers to discuss the issue.

Speaking in May, Ms Smith said: "Every parent expects their child to attend a safe school.

"Eradicating this risk is welcome, but where there are ongoing questions from parents and staff on the risks of asbestos in buildings, we need to have the highest standards and accountability in place to make sure our learning environments are safe.

"I've been pleased to meet with the parents and teachers from Ripley St Thomas, and support them in getting answers from the HSE and Lancashire County Council about the work that has been undertaken at the school.

"Alarmingly, asbestos is present in 83 per cent of state schools in England, and I have also reached out to the National Education Union to seek advice on their asbestos campaign - and will keep working to take this further.

"We also need to go further than removing harms and create classrooms where children can thrive."

HSE guidance on asbestos says: "Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were used extensively in the construction of schools and other public buildings from the 1950s until the use of asbestos in Great Britain was completely banned in 1999.

"Many school buildings constructed or refurbished during this period still contain a significant amount of ACMs. 

"The Department for Education (DfE) and Welsh Government, with support from HSE, provide guidance on managing asbestos in schools.

"It is aimed at headteachers, governors, other members of the school management team and local authorities who manage schools or oversee the maintenance and repair of their school buildings.

"HSE has an asbestos checklist for schools. This will help schools to review their asbestos management arrangements. It asks key questions so schools can check if suitable precautions are in place, and to record any further action that is needed."

The Government's guidance on asbestos says: "Asbestos is a general name given to several naturally occurring fibrous minerals that have crystallised to form fibres.

"The properties of asbestos made it an ideal material for use in a number of products, including insulation material for buildings, boilers and pipes; car brakes and floor tiles, insulating board to protect buildings and ships against fire; asbestos cement for roofing sheets and pipes.

"Due to the risks to health following inhalation exposure to asbestos, the importation of blue and brown asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1985. This ban was extended to include white asbestos in 1999.

"People may come into contact with asbestos from existing asbestos-containing materials in buildings and products. If they are intact, they pose very little risk. However, if asbestos containing products are damaged in some way, fibres may be released. 

"People are most likely to be exposed to asbestos fibres by breathing in fibres that are suspended in air.

"All forms of asbestos fibres are hazardous as they can induce cancer following inhalation exposure, but amphibole forms of asbestos (including blue and brown) are more hazardous to health than chrysotile (white).

"Breathing in high concentrations of asbestos for a long period of time mainly affects the lungs, causing a disease called asbestosis where breathing becomes difficult and the heart enlarges. Asbestosis may take decades to develop."

Beyond Radio also contacted Lancashire County Council, whose Scientific Services carried out asbestos inspections and tests at the school in 2025.

The online petition has called for them to "carry out all future asbestos testing and quality assurance work for the (Bay Learning) Trust".

A county council spokesperson said: "We are not the asbestos duty holder for this site.

"While we carried out some limited work at the school, the majority of works were delivered by contractors appointed directly by the school. Our involvement was limited to providing survey work on a commercial basis."