STUDENTS have been forced to study in temporary buildings as a school rushed to clear a small amount of asbestos disturbed during repair work.
The fibre, which can lead to fatal lung diseases only when exposed and inhaled in large quantities, became a danger when contractors started restoring the dated central heating system at Northolt High School in August.
The school was unaware of the asbestos, and brought in specialists immediately to safely remove the deadly material from the site in Eastcote Lane.
While the science labs and dance studio in the Elliott Building are out of bounds, staff have been forced to find study space elsewhere.
Headmaster Chris Modi was thrilled to announce all traces of the dangerous material had been completely removed over the weekend.
He said: "Some parts of the school are at least 50 years old, so we set out to restore the central heating which disturbed the bit under the floor of the school. That area was completely cleaned and we have environmental certificates to show it is absolutely clean."
However, the asbestos scare has highlighted the urgent need for modernisation.
Northolt High was due to receive funding to rebuild the school but missed out when the Coalition government scrapped the Building Schools For the Future scheme last year.
Northolt Mandeville ward councillor Chris Summers, who is also a governor at the high school, has since written to education secretary Michael Gove asking him what he can offer pupils in Northolt.
He said: "It again highlights Northolt High as a very aging building which really needs to be rebuilt but there's no cash. This is why I have written to Michael Gove.
"Northolt needs a new rebuild school like the West London Academy or Cardinal Wiseman. Teachers and staff are doing very good work at Northolt High, raising standards and improving results, but working with a very, very out of date building."
The school will be back to normal after the October half term as work is completed on the central heating.
Mr Modi added: "Northolt High is continually looking at ways to improve its environment and use its resources that it has as a foundation school. There might be a new national schools scheme and we'll be bidding to get Northolt High involved in that."
