Children head for Downing Steet with petition...

Two coachloads of parents, pupils and staff from a crumbling Coventry school are heading to Downing Street today to present a 2,500 name petition.



It is a momentous day for two eight-year-old pupils at Richard Lee primary school, Harvey Billing and Georgia Diston, who will hand in the petition at number 10, which will then be given to Prime Minister David Cameron.

The dilapidated Wyken school has seen children taught in corridors because of flooded classrooms, and last month part of the corridor ceiling collapsed.

Protesters are calling on ministers to urgently release funds to get started on a desperately needed new building.

The delegation of seven to 10 Downing Street includes the two pupils, parent Dawn West, headteacher Nicola Harwood, MP Bob Ainsworth, councillor Lynnette Kelly (cabinet member for schools) and ward councillors Faye Abbot and Hazel Sweet.

They are also calling on the PM to step in and confirm what funding Coventry City Council will receive in the next two years to tackle the city’s schools buildings crisis.

A delegation will also meet for urgent talks with Conservative schools minister Lord Hill, while more than 80 children and adults enjoy a day at the Science Museum.