Please, Mr Blair, fix our school

But at Seven Fields there is an eerie silence.

In 2004 children were told they couldn't stay in the Penhill building because it had been declared structurally unsound.

Ever since they have been taught in mobile classrooms, which now have leaking roofs.

In January Coun Garry Perkins, Swindon Council's cabinet member for children's services, promised them a new multi-million-pound state-of-the-art school.

At the time he said: "The funding for the project has been earmarked and this is going to happen."

The funding was going to come from the Department For Education And Skills.

But now it seems Coun Perkins (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) has gone back on his word.

Shockwaves were sent through the school after governors were told the council feels it cannot take this money because it might affect its future borrowing requirements.

The possibility of a rebuild is now hanging in the balance.

"It was complete shock when we found out," said staff governor and reception years teacher, Jennifer Donald. "We took it for granted that this was going to happen. There was no doubt that it wasn't. I was so angry and upset.

"When the rest of the teachers were told I just waited to see their faces. They were absolutely devastated, we all were.

"It's so upsetting because all any of us want is the best for these children."

Yesterday the Adver spent the morning at the 219-pupil school in Leigh Road and saw how bad the conditions were.

Two years ago cracks began to appear in the walls and floor, which forced pupils and teachers out into mobile classrooms.

A couple of offices inside the main building are still used, as well as the school hall, where assemblies and PE lessons are held and dinners are eaten - although there are no facilities to provide hot food.

There is also a computer suite, where children learn surrounded by scaffolding poles holding the roof up.

The rest of the school, which is also being supported by scaffolding, is empty and too dangerous to enter. Classrooms are silent with chairs, tables and equipment piled high.

In one former Year 6 classroom a blackboard still has spellings on it from a test carried out on June 7, 2004. In others paintings are still on the walls - serving as a constant reminder that there was once life in this now dilapidated school.

Teachers have tried to make their mobile classrooms as pleasant as possible but it is difficult when a toilet block separates two rooms.

In some mobiles there are no toilets so children have to put on their coats and walk to another block.

"When we first went into the mobiles we didn't mind too much because we thought it was just until we got a new school," added Mrs Donald.

"It's heart-breaking to see the school falling apart and even more heart-breaking to think we may not get our own school."

Mum Tara Jones, 28, who is a parent governor, has three children at the school, Kyle, eight; Keir, six, and Leah, three.

"We don't know if the building is ever going to happen now," she said.

"All we want is for our children to be in a proper school with good facilities.

"There have been so many schools rebuilt in Swindon and now we really need help."

The governors will be holding a meeting next week with parents to try to see if they can come up with a plan to raise at least some of the money that is needed for the new building now it looks like the council might not be able to help.

MP urges action

SEVEN FIELDS school is in the constituency of North Swindon MP Michael Wills. He has written a letter to council leader Roderick Bluh wanting to know why nothing has been done yet.

"I am very concerned to learn that there may be a question mark over the rapid rebuilding of Seven Fields School," he writes.

"As you know, this school is in desperate need of rebuilding. Not only is its current condition jeopardising the children's education and placing intolerable burdens on the staff, it also poses real health and safety risks.

"As you also know, the council's original bid for funding from central Government was flawed and inadequate and so failed. As soon as I learned this, I intervened with ministers and, as a result of protracted negotiations, secured an immediate capital grant of around £1m for Seven Fields.

"You will also be aware that the Chancellor announced in the 2005 Budget an additional capital fund for primary schools of £150m in 2008-09 and £500m a year thereafter and every local authority will expect to receive a share of that.

"As you know, I will do everything in my power to secure sufficient additional funds for Swindon from this new source and my track record since 1997 should give you confidence about my ability to do this.

"The issue for Swindon Council is therefore how to fund the additional £5m needed for the rebuilding of the school.

"Given that the council can have a reasonable expectation of receiving most or all of this back from 2008, this is essentially a matter of cash-flow. Moreover, the fact that the council have an upfront payment of £1m from Government is likely to mitigate the impact of funding this cash-flow. And this is likely to be further mitigated by the existence of further additional capital funds 17 months from now when the process of rebuilding may still be continuing or will only recently have been completed.

"In other words, the requirement for cash-flow from the council will not kick in at the start of the rebuilding process but only after that and may well not be needed to last until the completion of the process.

"I should therefore be grateful for your confirmation that you will take immediate steps to underwrite the remaining costs of rebuilding Seven Fields School and provide the children of Penhill and those who teach them the environment they need and deserve. I very much hope you will not delay addressing the plight of Seven Fields School."

Letters from the children

Dear Mr Blair, My name is Sarah-Jayne. I go to Seven Fields Primary School. I am on the school council and I am in year six.

These last three we have all been taught in mobiles, which is disgustingly horrible because it is taking up our playground. When we need to go to the toilet we have to cross the playground in the pouring rain.

Sometimes when it is cold and wet, we get leaks in the classroom which is not very pleasant. When we get to school we walk past our old building. We can't get in because it is too dangerous for everybody. In my ICT room, there is scaffolding holding up the ceiling.

We thought that we were going to get our new school by the end of last year. But now we might not.

Please can you help us raise the money to have the new school because we are very upset about this issue. It would be nice to be in the new school by the end of the year. Would you like to come and see our school and how it is at this very moment?

Yours sincerely, Sarah-Jayne Marchant

Dear Tony Blair, My name is Tyron Daly and I go to Seven Fields Primary School. I am on the school council and I'm in year 6.

For the last three years we have been in mobile classrooms. All of our friends are in mobiles too. We have to go across the playground to go to lunch even if it's raining. We have to pass our old school buildings. We have to wait outside if there is a big queue. We even have to come to the ICT suite were there is scaffolding which is very dangerous.

Today in Swindon it is raining and cold. I have came across to just let you know. Mr Blair, just what you are going to do in the future for myself and all my friends. PLEASE Mr Blair can you come to Seven Fields just to look for yourself ?

Yours sincerely, Joshua King and Tyron Daly