Film highlights crumbling Devon schools

Pupils have helped to make a DVD showing the crumbling condition of some of Devon's school buildings.

The film, showing rotten windows and a leaking roof, will be given to Education Secretary Michael Gove by Devon councillor Christine Channon.

She will be asking Mr Gove to make capital money available to ensure improvement schemes can proceed.

The government said it was reviewing spending so that cash went to schools in most need of repair.

The government cancelled the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme in the Spending Review announced by Chancellor George Osborne.

The county council fears that as a result, three Devon secondaries, Chulmleigh, Ilfracombe and Tiverton as well as Marland Special School in north Devon, will miss out on cash for rebuilding.

Mrs Channon, cabinet member for schools, said: "The very real need for new buildings at these four Devon schools still remains.

"I will be emphasising to Michael Gove that whatever scheme he puts in place to fund school building, these schools have a very good case to be at the head of the queue."

Mrs Channon, who is due to meet Mr Gove on Tuesday, will be presenting him with the DVD made by staff and students at Ilfracombe College.

It highlights children using garages for changing rooms at Marland Special School, a leaking roof at Tiverton, peeling paint and rotten window frames.

'Powerful recording'

It also states 70% of classrooms at Ilfracombe are in temporary buildings.

"It is a powerful and persuasive recording which I hope will help to sway Mr Gove's decision," said Mrs Channon.

The Department for Education said in a statement: "Ministers have been clear that the end of BSF is not the end of school rebuilding.

"That is why the government has launched a comprehensive review of all capital spending in schools so that money goes to those schools in most disrepair."