New school to be demolished over safety concerns despite never holding a class Ryan Prosser | Freelance News Reporter Published July 4, 2026 7:29pm Updated July 4, 2026 7:29pm Matford Brook Academy in Exeter is to be demolished following several concerns over the building’s structure (Picture: DevonLive/BPM Media) A school built for millions of pounds in 2021 is to be bulldozed due to concerns over the building’s safety. Not a single class has been held at Matford Brook Academy’s new building since it opened in Exeter in 2023. Pupils have taken lessons in temporary accommodation after a report to the Department of Education found the building to be non-compliant with modern safety standards. The new building, in the middle of a large housing estate, was left partially constructed after the