1.20pm Students who were evacuated from Ulladulla High School this morning can collect their bags from the school between 1.45pm and 2.15pm today.
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Principal Denise Lofts said all bags were securely locked in rooms where students were in period one today when the evacuation took place due to a gas leak in the hall.
"Between 1.45pm and 2.15pm the teacher of period one will be at the classroom to enable bags to be collected. We encourage students to do this," Mrs Lofts said.
She has told those who are unable to collect bags at that time that their bags will be locked in the classroom overnight, with extra security.
"Tomorrow morning, the period one Thursday teacher will meet the students at that room and unlock for the remainder of students to collect their bags," she said.
"We have a security guard on site over night."
12.30pm Ulladulla High School has re-opened its doors and students are returning to class after the school was closed this morning due to a gas leak.
Fire and Hazmat teams from Ulladulla and Batemans Bay have declared the area is safe for students and teachers to return from 12.30pm.
While many have taken the opportunity to go home early, NSW Fire and Rescue zone commander Roger Mentha said students can get back to their normal studies safely.
It could have been devastating.
- NSW Fire and rescue zone commander Roger Mentha.
He said 17 fire fighters spent almost three hours clearing gas that had pooled in a void under the school hall as a result of a faulty heater located in the building.
The gas was switched off and fire fighters used compressed air to clear the build up of gas from under the building.
Mr Mentha said the gas could have exploded with a "flick of a light switch".
"It could have been devastating," he added.
He said 1000 students and staff were evacuated after the gas was detected at 9am.
He said the situation remained calm, however students were concerned about the imminent possible danger.
Fire fighters used gas detecting equipment to ensure the school grounds were safe for students and staff to return.
Mr Mentha said roads in the vicinity would also be opened to the public by 12.30 today.
12 noon: Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock said she was "very disappointed" for the Ulladulla High School students who were evacuated during their HSC exams following a gas leak at the school.
“I have been advised by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW that it is in discussion with Ulladulla High School about an Illness/Misadventure group application for students," she said.
“Surely given the circumstances, the case for Misadventure is strong and marks will be based not only on school assessments, but students’ overall performance.
"I am assured by the board students will receive a fair and consistent end mark.
“I encourage all students at Ulladulla High School, particularly those currently undertaking HSC exams to continue the necessary studies for the remaining exams.”
11.30am Students are returning home and others will remain under supervision at the Ulladulla Civic Centre following this morning's gas leak at Ulladulla High School.
The Board of Studies has confirmed there were no students set to sit the Senior Science HSC exam at Ulladulla this afternoon, after this morning's Business Studies students were evacuated half an hour into their test.
A spokesperson said tomorrow's Economics and Textiles exams are expected to go ahead as planned in the school hall.
11am Ulladulla High School principal Denise Lofts said all students are "safe and well" and are under the supervision of teachers at the Ulladulla Civic Centre.
"Police and Fire Brigade are at the school monitoring the situation and coordinating a resolution of the gas leak," she said.
"At this stage it does not appear that the school will reopen for a couple of hours and we would encourage parents and carers to sign out their children for the day.
"Students can be collected from the Ulladulla Civic Centre from 11am.
"Any students who cannot be collected will be adequately supervised for the remainder of the day.
"We appreciate the support of the emergency services, and the way in which the students have conducted themselves during the evacuation.
"We thank you for your understanding," she said.
10.45am Ulladulla High School students have been told they can go home from school for the day and have been advised they can to go to the Ulladulla Civic Centre for collection by parents.
10.30am BOARD OF STUDIES UPDATE: The 16 Ulladulla High School students who were sitting their Business Studies HSC exam this morning will not have to complete the paper.
A spokesperson for the NSW Board of Studies said the students were about half an hour into their exam when they were evacuated from the school Multi Purpose Centre (hall) due to a gas leak coming from gas bottle located under the building.
The spokesperson said the board was in communication with the school.
The school would be required to lodge an illness or misadventure form on behalf of the students who were sitting the exam.
“The safety of students is our first priority,” the spokesperson said.
“We will look at look at the part of the exams that they did do in the half an hour and look at their school assessment mark and determine a mark that would reflect what they would have expected to achieve in an exams.
“They can’t re-sit the exam because others have completed it and they may have seen the paper.”
The spokesperson said the Ulladulla students were in the same situation as students who were affected by snow in the Lithgo area last week.
“It’s a tried and true process,” he said.
Students and teachers remained calm at the school, however one students was removed from the group when he began vomiting.
A witness said the HSC students were "very relieved that they didn't have to do their exam and go back in after being disrupted".
Up to six Ambulances remain on stand-by and police, fire and council personnel remain in the area.
10.15 Ulladulla High School students and staff will not be permitted to return to the school for "some time" as police have reported there is "quite a lot of gas" in the hall building. Two large gas bottles are located under the floor of the multi purpose building where HSC Business Studies exams commenced at 9.25am. Shoalhaven City Council staff have been called in to assist with traffic flow due to road closures.
10am Police arriving from Nowra to help secure the area. Students evacuated to the north western corner of the school in South Street. Roads closed in the vicinity.
9.45: Students have been evacuated, including those undertaking their HSC Business Studies exams in the hall.
The leak is believed to be coming from two large industrial sized gas cylinders located underneath the floor of the school hall in St Vincent Street.
9.30AM: Firefighters are on site at Ulladulla High School following reports of a gas leak.
A 200 metre exclusion zone has been put in place in South St and evacuations are underway.
People are being asked to avoid the area if possible.
More news as it comes to hand.
Are you there? Can you tell us more? Please email glenn.ellard@fairfaxmedia.com.au