A PROTEST against government inaction to support a critical need for the replacement of a temporary classroom was held at Lapford Community Primary School on Friday, July 10.

The school has attempted to obtain support from the government for the replacement of the old classroom for many years.

In December 2019 the classroom was condemned and the children have since that time been re-homed with the pre-school pupils in another temporary classroom.

The school has attempted to obtain support for a replacement through the Government’s Condition Improvement Fund.

FIFTH REFUSAL

It is staggering that the school heard at the end of June that the application had been refused by the Department for Education (DfE) - for a fifth time!

The Head of School, Clare Wilmott, has written to Mel Stride, the MP for Central Devon, concerning the fifth refusal for funding from the DfE.

She wrote: "Dear Mel, Thank you to your colleague for giving me the time to speak today on the telephone.

"We are pleased to learn that a meeting with the Department for Education has been arranged on Tuesday next week, July 14, and that their response to the request to meet was prompt.

"I cannot express how necessary and important this is to our Community and School.

"I thought it best I bullet point my communication in order to make it easier to discuss with Ministers.

"While we are grateful that the DfE will discuss this on July 14, we are perplexed that they have missed us again after so many bids.

"We’ve told everyone who will listen about the information below, including you and the person in charge of the country.

PARENTS DISTRESSED AND ANGRY

• Our parents are extremely distressed and angry.

• The school has attempted to obtain support through Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) bid five times now.

• The reason for our application is because for a period of over seven years, the classroom has been unfit for teachers or young children.

• The classroom is damp. The outer walls are bowed and over time, holes and gaps in the structure have formed where it has not withheld the pressure of weather.

• The floor has collapsed and sunken into the joists so it is uneven and holes have appeared after repeated repairs. It is completely rotten and was a "write off" seven years ago; the walls are 20 degrees from perpendicular, rot is visible in all corners of the classroom, the windows leak and the door to the outside would not open and close due to the movement of the main structure.

• Finally, in December 2019, the classroom was immediately condemned after yet another visit by the structural engineer in preparation for another bid. Staff spent the Christmas holidays evacuating it.

EVACUEES

• The evacuees were re-homed with our Pre-School pupils, in another temporary classroom. This was costly as we had to build a wall, dismantle a kitchen area to create space and re-design the room so that it could cater for Pre-School, Reception and Year One pupils all together.

Impact

• The two classes do not fit.

• Senior staff are angry and all staff dejected.

• We have reduced ability to remain an attractive option to our community; the "building" confronts them when they come to the school, from behind a "keep out" fence. The building now haunts us.

• Naturally, this depresses staff morale.

• The mood has changed and people find it hard to accept that this is now feeling permanent, especially given recent high profile announcements from Government about school building funding.

• Some of the younger pupils have offered to build a classroom for us. They regularly ask - when can we have our own classroom?

In September:

• Our Pre-School numbers have increased significantly and their learning space is impacted as they are required to share a temporary classroom with our Reception/Year One pupils.

• With the new social distancing measures in place, the desks in the classroom have had to be organised in a way to follow guidance, making the learning environment incredibly uncomfortable for pupils and staff. They do not fit.

DESPERATE

"I will continue to include Mel Stride in any correspondence I have with parents, community and the Parish Council around the classroom in order to keep him well informed.

"I hope that our desperate situation is conveyed for your attention."

Lapford Primary School is part of the Chulmleigh Academy Trust.

Michael Johnson, Executive Headteacher, Chulmleigh Academy Trust, told those gathered at the protest on Friday: "I am overwhelmed to see so many people here.

"I know we are all very passionate about it.

"It is unacceptable that our bids for funding keep being turned down.

"Mel Stride has been aware of our bids for years and is supporting us by going to the Department for Education on Tuesday.

"We are in an unacceptable situation with regard to this classroom and it is very important that you are all here."

Mark Tanner the parent of a Year Six pupil, said: "When my daughter started at this school I was told that a new classroom was needed and now she is about to leave the school, so it has been a long while.

"It is quite shocking and a squash for the kids into a tiny space.

"The teachers are trying really hard but they are trying to teach in confined spaces.

"Lapford has been pushed off the map by the Department for Education.

"It cannot be bothered to fund our school."

Parent Rachel Phillips said: "It is disgusting. Can you believe the school’s bid has been rejected for a fifth time.

"The village is growing with new affordable housing which will mean more children coming to the school. We just won’t be able to fit them all in."

FLABBERGASTED

Kirsty Wensley, said: "I am flabbergasted that the school bid has been rejected again. What do they need to do?

"We have three classes in one building and they are sharing classes in the main building.

"The hall is not feasible as a classroom because it is used for meals etc.

"A lot of other schools are improving but Lapford is rejected again. How can it not be higher on the list?"

Mrs Wilmott added that it was time consuming applying over and over again for the funding.

Cllr Ian Hemsworth, chairman, Lapford Parish Council, said: "It was agreed to organise this event just two hours ago and the support has been immediate from many people in the community.

"For many years the school has been refurbishing or replacing buildings.

"Within the village the school is a central hub.

"Speaking from a personal perspective I would do all I could to support the school."

Parent Darren Crump agreed that the village school is a big part of the community and said that it plays an integral part.

Executive Headteacher Mr Johnson added that he hoped Mel Stride would have some success with the DfE at his meeting on Tuesday.

RAISED AT NUMBER 10

Mel Stride, speaking exclusively to the "Courier", said: “I am very concerned about the lack of a replacement for this classroom and have seen it first-hand during visits to Lapford Primary.

"I have pressed very hard on this issue with government including DfE.

"Only last week I had a discussion with senior advisors at Number 10 in which I specifically raised this issue.

I said that something must be done and I will continue to push on this at the highest level.”