Pupils sent home after lead theft causes flooding (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Pupils sent home after lead theft causes flooding

10:39am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News By James Dwan

PUPILS have been sent home from a primary school in Thorpe after callous thieves stole lead from the building's roof - leading to flooding when it rained.

Headteacher John Crane arrived at Thorpe’s Rolph School this morning to find water on the school’s floors after lead was taken from the roof on Tuesday night.

But as pupils made their way to school, the heavens opened leaving the school hall and offices flooded.

Mr Crane said there was no option but to send pupils home due to the safety risk.

He said: “I’m very disappointed - these people don’t think about the consequences and how this will affect people.

“Not only have the children lost a day of education, but there was teacher training and parent training that was planned and interviews for teaching assistants were supposed to take place.

"We knew it had been taken as soon as came through the doors as there was water on the floor, but at 8.45am we had a huge storm.

“All the children got into the school okay and they were fine in their classrooms, but they couldn’t move around the school.

“Lunchtime would have been impossible and the whole school would have been affected if there was a fire alarm.”

Mr Crane said it is hoped the school would reopen on Thursday.