Students injured as walkway collapses at Newington College

SIXTEEN private schoolboys are in a stable condition in hospital after a walkway at their school collapsed, leaving some buried beneath lockers.

SIXTEEN private schoolboys are in a stable condition in hospital after a walkway at their school collapsed, leaving some students buried beneath lockers.

The Year Seven boys from Newington College at Stanmore, in Sydney's inner west, were standing on the recently-constructed timber walkway between classrooms about 8.30am (AEST) today when the incident occurred.

A New South Wales Ambulance spokesman said the group, aged 12 to 13 years, had been at the lockers ahead of their first class of the day and fell about 1.5 metres. Lockers landed on top of some of the students.

The boys were treated for a range of minor injuries, including cuts and bruises, with some suffering suspected fractures and spinal injuries.

"Parents of the boys affected are being contacted now," Newington Principal David Mulford said in a statement posted on the school's website.

He said there would be an investigation into why the walkway collapsed.

Police are on scene and will aid with the investigation.

The injured students were taken to RPA, St George and Sydney Children's hospitals.