Classrooms 'held together by gaffer tape', MP says

A Surrey MP has appealed to the government for financial support after revealing that classrooms in his old school are "being held together by gaffer tape".

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Woking representative Will Forster was frank about the state of the facilities at Woking High School where he was a student.

He told Prime Minister Keir Starmer: "I visited my old music classroom. I nearly fell through the floor, and I saw a hole in the roof...I saw classrooms built in the 1960s that were meant to last 20 years, but are still in use."

Woking High School said it had "invested significantly in improving and refurbishing our facilities", adding the music classroom was "an old hut which was taken out of use some years ago".

Forster said he could "still remember the stench of mould" in the music classroom, which he said was "condemned" last year.

Inviting the prime minister to see "how bad it really is", Forster appealed for financial support to ensure his "young constituents can be educated in a school they deserve".

Acknowledging the severity of the situation, Starmer promised the MP he would facilitate a meeting with the relevant government minister.

A spokesperson for Woking High School said: "We have applied to the Department for Education for Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) support over the past five years, to re-clad two Raising of the School Leaving Age (ROSLA) buildings, and to construct a new teaching block.

"However, these bids have not been successful and as a result, further improvements currently must be financed through the school's existing resources."

The spokesperson said Woking High School provided a "safe and high-quality environment" for students.

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