"Classes in corridor" school hit by roofing thieves

[dutchman]

Metal thieves have stolen lead and broken skylights at a Coventry school where children have been forced to learn in corridors due to flooding.



The robbery was discovered last Wednesday, as builders worked to fit new carpets in classrooms that teachers and children have been forced out of since they flooded over Christmas.

It’s hoped 84 pupils will be allowed back into them tomorrow.

But the theft has placed even more strain on the school’s finances, after Headmistress Nicola Harwood admitted to parents there was not enough money to tackle a leak in the roof, massive holes and black mould which is crawling up several walls.

The school had already estimated it needed £600,000 to fix the problems, significantly over its budget of just over £9,000.

City MP Bob Ainsworth has also written to the Education Secretary demanding a meeting over the state of the school buildings, in it he states:

“Richard Lee is currently top of Coventry City Council’s list of primary schools to be rebuilt as a consequence of its age, poor state of disrepair and the fact it does not meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.”

“I visited the school… and I was appalled by the condition that teachers and pupils are expected to work and learn in.”

“This dreadful state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue and I would therefore ask that you meet with myself and a delegation from the school and the Council to discuss what can be done to improve the situation at this school.”