Chaucer Technology School opened its doors to a team of asbestos surveyors at the end of last year.

As part of the BBC’s Inside Out programme the school was found to be among 92 per cent in the county that contain asbestos. That puts it among 544 of Kent’s 599 schools according to details obtained by the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act.

The programme investigates the problems of managing the substance in public buildings.

With that in mind, presenter Glenn Campbell asks if the UK should follow Ireland and the USA’s lead, by immediately demolishing all school buildings containing the substance, rather than just slowly refitting them.

In a statement on the school’s website, Chaucer head teacher Simon Murphy assured parents they had nothing to worry about.

“There may well be some parents who, having seen the programme, will worry that asbestos is a health concern for students and staff at our school” said Mr Murphy.

“It is not. I, for one, am glad that we agreed to take part in this programme as it means that our quality assurance is better than the majority.”

The matter has since been reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and an inspector has toured the school.

The HSE concur with the programme’s findings that there is no occupational or health hazard to students or staff.

The school will now be submitting an improved asbestos management plan to the HSE inspector.

Kent County Council’s head of operations Peter Binnie said there was no need to be alarmed.

“It is a fact schools in the county have asbestos in them but it is managed properly and there is very little risk to children or teachers," he said.

“Kent’s schools are very safe. Kent manages its asbestos extremely well.”

•Inside Out: Asbestos in the Classroom, is on BBC 1 at 7.30pm on Wednesday, January 28.