A GROUP of parents at Chagford Church of England Primary School have expressed their outrage at plans to demolish the current school building and start construction work on a new one on the school's playing fields — in just eight months' time.

Chagford is one of 261 schools in the UK which have been promised refurbishment or rebuilding through the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP).

At a meeting at the school on October 21, Gerard Stone of the Education Funding Agency made the announcement to parents that the only option the agency was willing to fund was to demolish the school building built in the 1930s and build a potentially smaller replacement building at a cost of £2.6-million on the school playing field.

Work could potentially begin next July.

A group of parents and members of the community have been left furious by the news and perceived lack of consultation and set up a campaign, 'Don't Shrink Our School', to fight the decision. Their petition already has around 300 signatures after less than a week of campaigning.

Jane Rush from the campaign said: 'The EFA can only give us a brand new school which is physically smaller and they admit there is no provision for our pre-school which is currently in the existing premises. 

'In addition, they intend building on the playing fields, leaving the children with no sports facilities.

'We also believe that the budget constraints of the PSBP will result in an ugly eyesore that is at odds with the beautiful surroundings of this ancient Dartmoor stannary village.'

Chagford Primary states that though the estimated building floor area for the new school is less than the current school, once a solution is found to include the Early Foundation Stage Unit in the plans, the new school will ultimately be bigger and provide a better use of space.

A Devon County Council spokesman confirmed that more than £300,000 of public money has been spent on the current school building in the last 18 months to fix its leaking roof and provide replacement windows.

The spokesman also clarified that the proposals for a new building were not a Devon County Council scheme and have come from a national scheme administered by the Education Funding Agency.

Despite the urgent maintenance works carried out on the school in 2013, there are still serious concerns over the condition of the current school building. The county council has told the school that the current backlog of maintenance would cost approximately £482,000. Maintaining the current buildings cost the school in excess of £15,000 a year.

The school has issued a statement to address concerns of parents.

The school's governing body and teaching staff were first informed by the EFA of its intentions to build a new school on October 15.

Among the essential requirements listed in the 'School Specific Brief', a document setting out the school's vision, are preserving the Early Years Foundation Stage Unit, having a school large enough to accommodate both current pupil levels as well as the anticipated increase in pupils likely to result from building developments in Chagford, and maintaining the school grounds in their entirety, preserving outdoor learning facilities, including the playing field and running track, vegetable garden and cob oven.

In its statement, the school said: 'Capital budgets are under increasing threat so compromises will have to be made.

'Maintaining school buildings presents an increasing challenge for Devon County Council. A new building delivers a sustainable future for the school.

'Withdrawal from the project would mean this vital funding will go directly back to the Treasury.

'There is no guarantee that the money will keep on coming from Devon County Council to maintain the building at its current size.

'Four years ago the county council allocated £13-million for school building maintenance; the current year's allocation for all schools across Devon is £7-million. The £2.6-million is currently allocated by the EFA and ring-fenced for Chagford School.

'EFA's technical assessment is that our buildings are coming towards the end of their life. The refurbishment option is not viable because of the degree of maintenance issues within the current buildings, as outlined in the condition survey conducted by the county council.

'These include significant asbestos presence, acute ventilation/cross-ventilation, humidity and damp problems, and issues with rotten window casements.

'There are cracks in the building which are of concern. The current buildings are not compliant with current national standards for school buildings.

'Key to the future success of Chagford CE Primary School is an active partnership between everyone involved. This will include listening to the views of the children - because they will undoubtedly think of very useful ideas to enhance their learning experiences - and those of parents and the wider community as much as we are able.

'At the appropriate time, therefore, we will explore ways of bringing together all stakeholders by providing a forum for sharing ideas, addressing potential concerns and coming up with practical solutions.'

The statement can be read in full on the school website, http://www.chagford-primaryschool.org">www.chagford-primaryschool.org

l What are your thoughts on the proposals? Write us a letter, to The Ockment Centre, North Street, Okehampton, EX20 1AR or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]