TEACHERS and pupils at a school which was today due to move to temporary premises to allow work to begin on much-needed new facilities have expressed their disappointment at a government decision to stop funding live on national radio.
BBC Five Live’s Shelagh Fogarty this morning anchored a live broadcast from Leytonstone Business and Enterprise School.
Pupils had expected to start the new term at Warwick School while a building on the Colworth Road site was knocked down and replaced with new £15 million facilities.
But the plans have been shelved after the coalition government ended Building Schools for the Future funding, while admitting that Waltham Forest would be one of the areas hardest hit by decision.
Pupils involved in designing the new facilities praised the standard of teaching at the school but said they are being hindered by outdated and inadequate facilities.
Headteacher Luke Burton said the practical building, which houses the science, arts, languages and technology departments, is no longer fit for purpose and pupils want a better canteen and toilet facilities.
He added: "We have inadequate music and drama facilities which are not fit for the twenty-first century."
"(Pupils) want much more pleasant areas.
"It is so important to invest in our young people. The Radio 5 Live show was an excellent opportunity to flag up several schools in Waltham Forest who have missed out in much-needed investment.
"Our children deserve the best, but they are missing out.
"When so little money is around it needs to be targeted to those in need.
"I would like Michael Gove (the Education Secretary) to look again carefully at the programme and those most in need."
Shelagh Fogarty, presenter of the Radio 5 Live show, said: "It was the first day back for most schools so we wanted to broadcast from a school.
"This was one of the schools affected by the BSF withdrawal. It has been a huge blow to them.
"We wanted to come here and hear their points of view.
"The whole school is very disappointed and expressed that vocally on air."
The show also featured parents and teachers, Shadow Education Secretary Ed Balls, Chairman of the Education Select Committee Graham Stuart, and council leader Chris Robbins.
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