Vandals cause £100k damage to two city schools

The council described the vandalism at the two schools as "sickening"

"Mindless vandals" have caused damage to two schools near Wolverhampton in a "violent rampage", the city council has said.

Green Park School, which caters for children with special educational needs and disabilities, and nearby Stowlawn Primary School, were broken into and vandalised by intruders at about 20:30 BST on Thursday, before they disturbed by a caretaker and fled the scene.

Council officers have been on site in Bilston with police and school staff to assess the damage, which is estimated at over £100,000.

Police investigations are now under way.

Police are investigating the vandalism at the two primary schools

The council said the intruders had caused "major criminal damage", including damaged external and internal doors, as well as fire doors, while toilets and interactive whiteboards were smashed, iPads and ICT equipment were also destroyed, and fire extinguishers were discharged.

A mobile swimming pool was also damaged and changing rooms ransacked, and attempts were made to start fires inside a building.

Parents and carers were notified of the incident and told that both schools were closed on Friday.

It is unclear when they will reopen.

Both schools suffered extensive damage, with attempts to start fires inside one building

The leader of the local authority, councillor Stephen Simkins, branded the acts of vandalism as "disgusting" and called for the prosecution of those involved.

He said: "We are absolutely appalled by this disgusting act of mindless vandalism.

"Those who have committed this crime need to be caught and prosecuted to the full power of the law. These idiotic vandals are a blight on our communities and we will not tolerate them.

"Together, we must stand against this kind of senseless behaviour and reaffirm our commitment to protecting our schools and the children and young people who depend on them".

The council leader has branded the vandalism as "disgusting"

Councillor Jacqui Coogan said the vandalism had caused "so much upset and disruption for staff, children and families" at both schools and that repairs would cost upwards of £100,000.

"This is money that the schools, the council and the city's taxpayers can ill afford," she said.

Green Park headteacher Lorraine Downey said: "Our heartfelt thanks goes to our brave community caretaker, who intercepted the intruders."

Stowlawn Primary headteacher, Kate Charles, said: "We are absolutely devastated that someone would choose to target our schools like this for no reason. The impact over the past few hours for the staff, children and our families has been immense.

"However, the local authority support has been amazing, as have the police, and we have received so many messages of support from our amazing families and local community.

"Luckily the damage is repairable and we are working to welcome our children back to school as soon as we can."