A fire safety report at an East Dunbartonshire secondary school with than 1,300 pupils has found there is a substantial risk to life from fire in the building.

The internal report – seen by BBC Scotland News – said fire exits at Lenzie Academy were not easily and immediately openable and fire doors were not always closed and in good condition.

The EIS teaching union described conditions in the school as dangerous. Its members have voted to initiate an indicative ballot for industrial action.

East Dunbartonshire Council said health and safety was a priority and officers across the council were working at pace to address the recommendations.

The report is dated 14 October 2025 and was carried out by the council’s fire risk assessor.

It found there was not suitable protection of escape routes, not all cooking appliances were maintained and in a good condition and combustible materials did not appear to be separated from ignition sources.

It made 25 recommendations including upgrading all fire doors that do not offer at least 30 minutes of fire resistance, ensuring fire extinguishers hidden behind doors are easily accessible and storing combustible material properly.

BBC Scotland News has seen one photo from inside the school which appears to show a pane of glass missing from a fire door.

One parent of a pupil at the school, who asked not to be named, accused the local authority of “years of neglect and underinvestment”.

They added: “Lenzie Academy is not fit for purpose, the building is in extremely poor disrepair and its lack of facilities is hampering our children’s education.

“It is the only secondary school in the whole of East Dunbartonshire which has not been rebuilt which is extremely unfair.

“All these very serious issues to the current school building need to be rectified immediately and a new school needs to be built as soon as possible to ensure children get the same level of education as the rest of children in East Dunbartonshire.”

Plans are under way to replace the current Lenzie Academy with a new building at a different site, but the EIS says that is unlikely to happen before 2029.

The union said its members’ working conditions were pupils’ learning conditions.

Area Officer Bora Oktas said: “What we are seeing at Lenzie Academy is not just unacceptable – it is dangerous.

“The fire risk assessment clearly states there is a significant risk to life. Yet the council has refused to share this document with staff.”

The union said it has other health and safety concerns including water leaks, missing ceiling tiles and building security. It claimed staff had been raising concerns for months.

BBC Scotland News has seen photos which appear to support these concerns.

Mr Oktas added: “The current situation leaves pupils and staff vulnerable to a range of risks.

“We urge the council to take immediate steps to ensure the building is secure, safe, and fit for learning. Preventative action now is essential to avoid any future incidents that could compromise the wellbeing of the school community.”

East Dunbartonshire Council chief executive, Ann Davie, said the school “remained safe for pupils, teachers and staff to occupy”.

She said actions in the report listed as an “immediate threat to life,” which included paper being stored near a radiator, had already been addressed.

She added: “The health, safety and wellbeing of all of our staff and pupils is a priority for the council.

“We have only recently received the Fire Safety Risk Assessment for Lenzie Academy and officers across the council are working at pace with the school to address the recommendations.

“Actions are already being addressed, and an action plan is being shared with the school and teaching unions.”