PETER Elliott, head teacher at East Bridgwater Community School, said he was concerned about accommodating children from the proposed 2,500 home development in North-East Bridgwater, which has just won £11.1million of Government funding to go ahead.

He said: “We are getting no funding from the developer in North-East Bridgwater towards any improvements to our school, because it was expected that our school would be rebuilt under BSF.

“The main problem is the fabric of the classrooms.

"They are damp, cold in the winter, baking hot in the summer, and unpleasant to be in for a large part of the year.

“I would say to Michael Gove 'come and see our school and see if you reach the same conclusion about our students and our town not deserving this investment'.”

The Mercury also spoke to pupils Ashley Quinn, aged 15, Keiron Weaver, 15, Keeley Maye, 12, and Bradley Frost, 12.

Ashley said: “It's a letdown because the school does need to be rebuilt and we haven't got the money to do it ourselves.”

Kieron said: "I was looking forward to the new changing rooms. Our new school would have been a nicer, cleaner environment."

Keely said: “I was hoping we would get a new playground, because I feel trapped in our playground; it's really enclosed.”

Bradley said: “We need our new school. It's stupid that they have stopped this because we've already put in all the work.”