PUPILS were lucky to escape without “serious injuries” after a school ceiling collapsed.

Four pupils were hurt, suffering cuts and bruises, when a suspended ceiling in a classroom at King’s School, Worcester, came down during a lesson last Thursday (May 17).

An investigation is underway.

The classroom was on the ground floor of the Annett building, which is used for Year 7, choir and mathematics, and was built by Speller Metcalfe Ltd (SML) in 2001.

A source has told the Worcester News that it appears the ceiling was installed incorrectly.

They said: “Somebody has used the wrong fixings and they’ve collapsed. A plastic plug type of fixing has been used which is nowhere near the right sort.

“You need a metal plug – it’s given up under the pressure of the weight.”

They said this type of ceiling includes a metal grid and electrical wiring.

“This thing is heavy and can come down with quite a bang,” they said, adding: “It could quite easily cause serious injuries.”

Helen Jackson, school bursar, described it as “a shock".

She said: “There were some cuts and bruises suffered but nothing serious.”

The school said it could not confirm the age of children involved.

“We are currently in the process of removing the ceiling,” she said. “We haven’t got to the bottom of the cause. Our maintenance team were called in, contractors and architects.

“The children were well taken care of and parents were called. All of the key personnel did what they needed to. From the school’s perspective, everyone did their jobs extremely well.”

Mrs Jackson confirmed the incident happened “first thing” in the morning and parents of those hurt were invited to come and collect their children.

She said the injuries were treated in the school’s medical room and no hospital treatment was required.

She added: “The area was closed off and classes had to be moved.

“The health and safety people checked everything, and remedial works were carried out. It will take about a month, in terms of restoring the space.”

An SML spokesman said: “A small section of plasterboard ceiling collapsed.” He added the company took “immediate action” to assess the ceilings throughout the affected teaching block.

He added: “As a precautionary measure we are working with our sub-contractor to replace four additional ceilings within the Annett Building.

“We have also undertaken investigation into all other projects we delivered at King’s and are satisfied no other buildings are affected.”