Since September the school has experienced an unprecedented wave of antisocial behaviour and criminal damage. Vandals are climbing on the school roof most nights and are kicking off stack pipes and gas flues. More recently, they have stripped us of external CCTV and turned their attention to the lanterns above our pool area. (These are very much like skylights and serve to protect the water from daylight that can form algae on the surface of the pool.) Lanterns have been repeatedly kicked, smashed and debris has fallen onto specialist pool blinds and then into the pool water and surrounding area.

Unsurprisingly, this has forced a pool closure whilst contractors repaired our roof and removed the debris from the water. It was especially frustrating when our pool had only just reopened to pupils following extensive boiler replacements and electrical repairs.

Our pupils need to access the pool for hydrotherapy purposes as it promotes active movement for our most vulnerable learners. We cannot imagine that anyone would want to deny these children their access to our pool-yet, this is happening night after night. Their actions are morally reprehensible.

It is our understanding that replacing one lantern costs approximately £1,000 and we have just one lantern left intact on our roof out of a possible 8.

In total, we estimate that damage is approaching the £17,000 mark and our school budget simply cannot sustain this any longer.

Thank you for your support in such challenging times.