New boiler for Calderdale school battling broken heating system for months
Warmth is finally in sight for a Calderdale school which has been without a working boiler since last year.
Some students at Brighouse Sixth Form College, part of Brighouse High School, have had to wear hats in class to keep warm during the coldest months, said MP for the Calder Valley, Josh Fenton-Glynn.
But he says he has been speaking to Government ministers about the issue, and a new boiler should be installed this week.
“Sometimes this job is just knocking on doors to get things fixed. And that’s what we did to get them their new boiler,” he posted.
The Courier reported in February how Brighouse Sixth Form College had suffered a broken heating system since the previous term.
Unable to afford the replacement heating system needed from the school’s already-stretched budget, head teacher Richard Horsfield said then their only option was to apply to the Department for Education (DfE) for “Urgent Capital Support”.
But they were informed that the application had not been successful as the DfE had deemed the situation “not urgent”.
Temporary heating was installed in teaching rooms and classes that were in the coldest rooms were relocated.
When temperatures fell after the Christmas break, some lessons had to be taught to students remotely at home.
Mr Fenton-Glynn said: “They had to go all winter without a boiler. Now that is not ideal in a place like the Calder Valley.
“In fact, one of the teachers told me that they were teaching where they and the students had to wear hats.
“Luckily, I engaged with the Government ministers and we are now going to get them a new boiler.”