Letter to Parents From Gary Tucker, Headteacher

To all Parents

21 July 2010

Dear Parents

Many of you will have seen the recent publicity in the local papers about our roof. We must thank Mrs Fiona Davison, Chair of our Parents & Friends Association for her sterling efforts in getting press coverage for this issue in an attempt to highlight the need for concerted action to improve matters.

Several parents have been in contact with me directly to ask about the situation. I thought that some more information might help you to understand the position we are in.

As you may know our buildings were established in four phases, the last of these in 1990.  At that  time the school was on two sites. We moved into our newly extended buildings in February the following year.

The site here slopes away towards the allotments adjacent to Brookland Infants’ School. The extensions are therefore at different levels which explain why we have so many sets of stairs, and so much complicated roof detail. The joints between the buildings are obvious weaknesses in a flat roof system. These areas have been prone to leaks over the years.

To further complicate matters, the roof system brings all of the rainwater inside the building to be handled, running inside the roof space and down pipe work between the leaves of the cavity walls. In addition to leaks along the roof joints we have often had to deal with leaks in the rainwater system too.

All of this drains down our capital resources and prevents us investing in upgrading the buildings and facilities.

As the Parents and Friends have shifted the emphasis of their fund-raising it makes sense to lobby the council for cash to invest in the school’s buildings. This is especially important now because we know that the partial re-build/refurbishment of the school under the government’s Building
Schools for the Future programme will not be realised. We are in the position of not knowing whether there will be any major investment in our buildings to replace that, so it is essential we try to get whatever funds we can to improve the present buildings.

If you have not done so already, please do support the present campaign. Inadequate buildings are a serious handicap for the school. We are keen to ensure that your child enjoys a stimulating and pleasant learning environment.

Yours sincerely

Gary Tucker
Headteacher

Category: School News