The CEIP Virgen de la Puerta primary school in Orihuela will not open its doors for the start of the 2026-2027 academic year. The regional Education department has ordered the closure of the building due to structural issues, forcing the relocation of 302 pupils to schools in the outlying districts of Molins and La Campaneta.
According to the STEPV union, the decision was communicated to the educational community on Monday, 7th September, just two days before classes were due to begin. Union representative Ramon explained that the school headteacher received a notification on Sunday stating that the building was required to remain closed from 1st September.
STEPV pointed out that this order directly contradicts previous assurances given by Orihuela Town Council, which had announced various maintenance works over the summer so the school could open. The union questioned the extent of those works, claiming that necessary structural repairs were never carried out.
At the start of August, the local council admitted the building was not in an ideal condition and considered several options. These included urgent provisional repairs, installing temporary prefabricated classrooms nearby, or as a last resort, temporarily transferring pupils to outlying districts due to a lack of available space in central Orihuela.
Attempts to find a location for temporary classrooms proved difficult. Municipal technicians assessed five public plots near the Rabaloche neighbourhood without finding a suitable location. Negotiations to lease a private plot broke down when the owner withdrew, prompting the local council to approach Sareb regarding alternative land.
Under the immediate relocation plan, infant pupils and first-year primary children will be moved to Molins, while the remaining primary school years will go to La Campaneta. Families were called to a meeting on Sunday afternoon to receive details.
The union raised concerns over the tight timeframe, noting that as of Sunday, no school transport contract was in place to carry children daily to the districts, though families were promised the service would be operational. The situation is further complicated, as Monday is a local holiday in Orihuela and classes start yesterday, Tuesday.
Doubts also remain regarding the school canteen service. STEPV highlighted that over 95 per cent of the pupils hold full canteen grants, meaning nearly 300 children will require meals at their new schools. The receiving schools are smaller facilities that have not previously handled meal provision on this scale.
The sudden move has caused frustration among parents, particularly those without private vehicles or who work outside the town, who fear logistical difficulties if a child falls ill during the school day.
The structural problems at Virgen de la Puerta are longstanding. Built in 1972 and opened in 1973, cracks appeared shortly after construction. In February, a report by the Valencian Institute for Health and Safety at Work (Invassat), requested by STEPV, concluded that the school required major structural works to continue operating. The union noted that the required works were so extensive that demolishing the building and constructing a new school would be more viable than a full repair.
In November 2025, a separate structural report commissioned by the local council was sent to the regional Education ministry, confirming the need for intervention. Despite this, mid-August maintenance by the local council included work on pillars, removal of damaged elements, roof and facade repairs, waterproofing, and painting while searching for land for temporary classrooms.
The union also expressed concern for teaching staff, who were assigned to Virgen de la Puerta at the start of the term and must now work across two different schools, with specialist teachers potentially required to travel between Molins and La Campaneta during the working day. STEPV also criticised the revelation that the school should have been closed since 1 September, pointing out that teachers had been attending the building during the previous week without being informed.
