Huts '˜desperately' need to be replaced

The majority of the huts were built at the rear of the school, at the Shooting Field site, in 1960 and are now way ‘past their sell-by date’.

There are ten huts and they are currently being looked at by West Sussex county councillor David Barling, Peter Evans, the cabinet member for education, and Marion Gue, the chairwoman of Steyning Grammar School governors.

David Barling, said: “These have been there for many, many years and have gone into disrepair, they are in a dilapidated state.

“There is no economic repair that can be done, so replacement is the only answer.

“I am keen that if we can replace the huts easily this will considerably assist the school and I will continue to encourage the county council to do so.”

“Councillor Evans will now consider the matter further.”

Marion Gue said: “The huts were suppose to be temporary when they were built and they are basically past their sell-by date and we are desperate for them to be replaced.

“The current curriculum can’t be delivered properly in the huts.

“The school is keen to replace them as soon as possible and want to work alongside WSCC.

“This, and more space for sixth formers, are high priority and have been pressing issues for a while.”

The school ‘fully utilise’ the huts as there are over 2,000 pupils to accommodate.

Cllr Evans, said: “The huts are ageing and need upgrading in the future.

“Schools do need to be upgraded at various times.

“The huts do need to be upgraded, they are temporary accommodation that are nearing the end of their working lives but it is a case of as and when funding is available.

“There is no plan in place at the moment.

“Steyning Grammar is a high-achieving school. Education is not always about buildings but the quality of the teaching which Steyning Grammar excel at.”

Marion added: “Nick Wergan, the new head, identified the huts and space for sixth-formers as his number one priority.

“We are one of the best schools in the county and good schools deserve investment too.”