Highwood Primary School, in Bushey, will not reopen on time after flood damage

Highwood Primary School, in Bushey, was devastated by the flash floods in June and the school subsequently had to close with many pupils having to complete their studies at other schools in the area.

Now in a joint-statement from head teacher Della Allen, deputy head Cathy Cox and Rita Mitchell, chairwoman of governors, published in a school newsletter, it has been confirmed the site will remain until September 12, a week after the term starts.

This is because work to repair the damage is not due to be finished in time.

Sally Shiers, 42, of Norbury Avenue, Watford, who has a child who goes to the school said: “I appreciate it is a really tough situation. With 470 children there will be at least 200 to 300 parents who are understandably angry.

“I understand the situation but I think more could have been done to support parents who work. But Hertsmere Borough Council have a lot to answer for.

“The staff and head teacher are absolutely devastated with what has happened.

“But at the end of the day more could have been done to help with childcare. I am lucky in the sense I am a stay at home mum but other parents are worried what will happen when they have to go back to work.

“Many do not have the money to spend on childcare after the summer holidays. Although some of the children did go to Bushey Meads at the end of the academic year they cannot do that again.

“Our children have now really not been in proper education since June 23. They could have had some of the teaching staff to take a group of children to a church hall or something.

“The children will be behind all the others now. No one is to blame but more could have been done to help with child care.”

There are around 470 children who currently study at the school and their parents have now been inconvenienced for second time following the floods.

The statement from the school said: "We understand that this postponement to the beginning of term will prove problematic and difficult for you all and we ask once again for your continued patience and understanding whilst we work to prepare to deliver the best educational provision for your children in our mobile classrooms.

"Over the summer investigative work has been carried out in the school building and a number of test holes have been dug to ascertain the extent of the water damage.

"Because of this and the further strip out of rooms such as the IT suite we are not able to set up classes in the dining room and activity suite so we are not able to invite a year group back to school prior to having the temporary site released to us.

"We all look forward to welcoming your children back to school on Monday, September 12.

"The staff are preparing lots of exciting learning opportunities for them."

Due to the damage caused to all of the classrooms, there will be a temporary school built on the field and representatives from Hertfordshire County Council and Portakabin have worked with senior leaders over summer to put it together.

It has also said in the statement the school is unable to open on time because Hertsmere Borough Council would not allow weekend works towards the end of August and the loss of five working days, including a bank holiday.

Another parent, Samantha Roderick said she is extremely disappointed her daughter will not be starting back on September 5 like the other schools in the area.

She said: "I feel like her education is suffering with the amount of time the school has been closed.

"I am frustrated the works were not completed over the summer holiday so the children could return to school on time.

"Being a full time working mum I am really struggling with child care and have had to rely heavily on my dad yet again because of further delays.

"I feel for the parents that do not have any other options because we all know how expensive child care is.

"I am a practice nurse at one of the GP surgeries in Watford and there is no way I could take time off work when my clinics are always full.

"I rely heavily on the school hours and breakfast club/tea time club to be able to work. I hope the school opens on September 12 I am running out of options. As I am sure other parents are."

Bosses at Hertsmere Borough Council said they were "unaware" of the building work until a noise complaint was made by a neighbouring resident on August 15.

Chris Gascoine, the authority's chief environmental health officer, said: “As a result of that complaint we visited the site, and the contractors duly agreed to work within the normal restrictions on working time (noisy work on site to be allowed only between 8am and 6pm Mondays to Fridays and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays) in order to minimise noise nuisance to local residents.

“Had we been notified beforehand, we could have considered setting up an agreement under Section 61 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, which may have enabled this project to be carried out outside of the prescribed hours.”

The school was completely rebuilt a number of years ago which cost just under £8 million, but now the school has been devastated by the floods.

Kier Group, a construction company, is due to start work on the main building in the next couple of weeks and according to Mrs Allen once this work is underway they will have a clearer idea of when they will be able to return to the building.

Speaking on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council Andrew Dawson said: "Regrettably Highwood Primary School is therefore unable to open to children until Monday, September 12. 

"This is not a decision taken lightly and all available options were discussed with the local authority, governing body and external advisers.

"Senior leaders and governors understand that the delayed start to the school year will cause disruption to our school community, especially to working parents, but that this delay will allow for a safe and orderly start for all pupils as they begin their new academic year at Highwood. 

"We apologise for any disruption this may cause."

Highwood staff will be on site from September 1 and will assist with recovering the classroom resources from the storage containers ready to move into the mobile classrooms as soon as they are allowed on site.

Has the closure of the school affected you? Comment below or email steven.brown@london.newsquest.co.uk.