A Wirral primary school that launched a campaign for urgent refurbishment will receive vital government funds for a rebuild.
The Department for Education has confirmed that Riverside Primary School in Seacombe is one of 61 schools across the UK that will be part of the school rebuilding programme. More than 1,100 schools throughout the country were nominated.
In October 2020, part of the school building’s ceiling collapsed while issues have previously arisen with its heating and kitchen. In a bid to plea for government help, a social media campaign was set up, a petition issued online and a gofundme page managed to secure donations of more than £2,000.
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In a bid to highlight their plight, children hung 200 coats on railings outside representing how they have to wrap up warm when the heating system breaks. Wirral Council said it was working with the school to address the issue.
Pupils at the crumbling school also made a slick online video to now outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, begging him to help them. Their hard work has now paid off with confirmation that the Department for Education will step in at long last.
It has been chosen alongside a number of other Merseyside schools for support, including St Anne Stanley School in Old Swan, Lydiate Primary School and Savio Salesian College in Sefton, and the Mosslands School in Wallasey. The schools were chosen as they met the criteria of having buildings of specific construction types that require replacement, are in a severe or urgent condition, and are in the highest condition of need.
After closing nominations in March, the Department for Education has named the eligible schools to “maintain the pace of delivery and address some of the poorest condition buildings as soon as possible.”
Cllr Paul Stuart, Labour councillor for Seacombe, said the news of work at Riverside Primary School was needed urgently. He said: "It has been a long time coming since Riverside primary school was promised, a new school.
“I have supported the school in their campaign to ensure what has been promised as has Angela Eagle MP. The school staff are amazing and dedicated to providing the best education for the children despite the condition of the school.
“At long last the children at Riverside will have a modern, energy efficient, state of the art, fit for purpose educational facility which will complement the fantastic teaching staff and dedicated governors.”
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