Parent's anger at 'freezing' classrooms at Hastings school

Paul Hughes said pupils at The Hastings Academy have had to endure cold classrooms in the last few weeks during the recent cold spell due to the school’s heating system breaking down.

He said: “We sent our two daughters to school recently with thermal leggings because it’s been too cold. Parents are letting their children take in thermometers into school.

“I went to a parents’ forum recently and sat in the hall and found it so uncomfortable as it was freezing. I can’t see how children can be taught and are focused if the school is this cold.”

He said the school provided portable fan heaters during the recent cold spell. He added that he also wrote to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to voice his concerns.

Mr Hughes said that he also raised the issue with Mike Turner, borough councillor for Baird ward.

Cllr Turner described the situation as ‘ridiculous’. He said: “The academy has had to spend £700,000 of its budget so far to find and replace components for this heating system that keeps breaking down. It’s ridiculous that they are having to spend all of this money on spare components.

"This money should have come from the Department for Education, as it’s not right that the school has to pay for a system that is not working properly. It’s outrageous.”

The school said it has since installed a temporary boiler while the heating system undergoes repairs.

Simon Addison, principal of The Hastings Academy, said: “Unfortunately, the academy has experienced a heating system failure over the last few days. The University of Brighton Academies Trust has worked with us to ensure that we have the necessary temporary heating equipment in place, which has allowed us to remain open to all students.

"A temporary boiler is now in place which will provide full heating to the academy whilst engineers investigate the repair or replacement of our primary heating system. We would like to thank our staff, pupils, parents, and carers for their support and patience during this time.”