Devon school to get 'long-awaited' rebuild

The Department for Education has confirmed Tiverton High School is set for a rebuild which could start next year

A Devon school has been included in a government rebuild programme, the Department for Education (DofE) has confirmed.

Tiverton High School said this "long-awaited news" was "fantastic" as it was first promised a rebuild in 1999.

Following an assessment of the school, the DofE judged the school required "necessary investment".

The department said the work, part of the government's schools rebuilding programme, would start at the earliest in April 2025.

According to Rachel Gilmour, Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead, the school was built on a floodplain more than 60 years ago.

She said in that time, the Environment Agency's reports had scored regular flooding of school buildings as a "risk to life".

The DofE also considered the presence of asbestos across various buildings, and a build provision of 1,300 meant the infrastructure could not meet the required capacity of 1,800 pupils.

Executive Head of Tiverton High School Sammy Crook said: "We have experienced difficulties with the tired building, which puts pressure on staff and students.

“We are creative with the buildings we have but news that rebuilding work is confirmed is what our students, staff, and community has been waiting for."

'Fighting hard'

She added: "I will make sure we continue to provide an education that inspires students and our staff.”

Mrs Gilmour said she had been "fighting hard to secure a place " on the 518-strong list of schools that will be worked on.

"The school has been in a dire state of repair for decades now and, undoubtedly, this has had a disastrous impact on the educational achievements in the school for an extended period," she said.

"To teach and learn in a building in such a poor state of disrepair has been nothing short of traumatising for the head, her staff and pupils.

"To my mind, Sammy Crook and Jon Sowden are the true heroes in this result."