HIGH Peak MP Tom Levitt is backing a campaign for a new building for Thornsett Primary School.
Campaigners have been left disappointed by Derbyshire County Council's announcement that, under new criteria for replacing worn-out schools, Thornsett no longer qualified for assistance.
The MP is now asking the Government to conduct an urgent rev
iew of the criteria, and has written to Schools Minister Jim Knight.
"Thornsett has the worst school buildings in High Peak and they deserve to be replaced," he said.
"The current building is Victorian, isolated, not accessible to people with disabilities and wholly unsuitable for a modern education.
"Derbyshire County Council has been very supportive. They recognise that the school building is the worst in High Peak. They even own the land on which a new school would be sited."
Mr Levitt said the authority was equally disappointed by new guidelines from the Department for Children, Families and Schools which prevented Thornsett from being listed in the 15 most deserving cases for replacement in the county.
"What really disturbs me is that the children know that their accommodation is second rate and this scars their education," added the MP.
"This is despite the best efforts of an excellent headteacher and staff who are totally committed to their children under very difficult circumstances."
The full article contains 221 words and appears in Buxton Advertiser newspaper.
