Parents at a local primary school have reacted furiously after they were given “insanely short notice” that their children could not begin school at the start of term.
Parents of children in the new reception classes at Halstow Primary School in Halstow Road were told just two days ago that work on a new school building had overrun. They will now have to start a week later than other pupils.
The children had been due to begin their first day at school today.
Executive Head Mary Whitehead told parents: “I am sorry to inform you that I have had to take the decision to delay the start of term for reception children by one week… The new building is nearly ready but the flooring and toilets are not fully completed. I can only apologise for the late notice and the inconvenience this will cause. Please be assured this decision was not taken lightly and my only consideration has been that your child starts Halstow in safe and organised surroundings.”
One angry parent told Greenwich.co.uk: “I was absolutely stunned when I received the email. The school had assured us that the building work would definitely be finished in time and that even if it was not, that alternative accommodation could be found for the children. This is a big inconvenience.
“I spoke to another parent yesterday who was in floods of tears about it. They have only just got back from holiday and now they are going to have to tell their boss that they need another week off at insanely short notice. The children are also very disappointed. I am not happy at all about the way Halstow has handled this. How can we be sure it will even open next week?”
A newsletter sent to parents in July promised that all renovations would be completed over the six week summer holiday. A source at the school explained that electrical works had overrun meaning that they had no choice but to delay the start of term for some children.
Halstow’s website today made no mention of the delayed start.
The school’s management were contacted for comment yesterday but had not responded by the time of publication.