Pupils can't use new school Playing Field

10.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th Jun 2007

Cllr. Jane Hollis

Jane Hollis, Liberal Democrat Councillor for St.Davids, and School Governor for Green Oaks School raised at the County Council Meeting the problems that have occurred with Green Oaks School, one of the new PFI projects. (Private Finance Initiatives)

Cllr Hollis tabled a question on the Council's agenda:

"Given the massive investment this Council has placed in the Private Finance Initiative for rebuilding Northamptonshire's schools, with particular reference to Green Oaks School, Whiston Road (St David Division), would Cllr Kirkbride (Cabinet Member for Children's Services) please enlighten me as to why, in March 2007 this primary school was signed off as completed, on budget and on time (in Northamptonshire County Council's own words) when clearly it was most definitely incomplete with a huge amount of snagging to the building and a playing field made up of builders' rubble, which made it a school unfit for purpose . This has been confirmed by independent surveyors engaged by the school.

It is incredible that the independent certifier for the contract signed the school off. Please confirm dates of his/her visits to assess progress in accordance with the specification.

Large pieces of rubble still make up the playing field making it so bad that the children have to be confined to the tarmaced playing area and the Sports Day was cancelled. Two serious accidents have occurred due to the premature handover of this school. The head teacher has had many meetings with officers of NCC and the contractors to try to resolve this situation but there has been no resultant improvement.

Can Cllr Kirkbride assure the Governing Body how and when this situation can be resolved? The head teacher can then get back to her primary occupation - ensuring there is good quality education for the children attending Green Oaks Primary School rather than solving building problems."

The Head teacher of Green Oaks and the School Governors have been trying for months to get the contractors and the Education Dept of Northamptonshire County Council to complete the remedial work. In desperation Cllr. Jane Hollis has had no other option but to bring this matter directly to the attention of the Cabinet Member and the Council.

The school governors had a meeting and are up in arms about the situation. They have asked that all works are completed before September other than the new turf being laid, namely:

• All grass areas around the playground to be cleared of all debris and new seed planted. All fencing to be removed.

• Pencil fencing to be installed

• All turfed areas to be cleared and prepared ready for turf to be laid

• All main building snags to be completed

• No machinery to be on site after 1/9/07

They have arranged an emergency governors meeting for 30th August where the situation will be reassessed at that time. They have agreed that failure for the above to be completed so that the school is fit for purpose for the new academic year will result in the governing body keeping the school closed until they consider it is fully fit for purpose.

Since tabling the question to council assurances have now been given that the work will be done.