AN extraordinary row has erupted over plans to rebuild a school - with governors defending their actions in the wake of council accusations of “delaying and wrecking tactics”.

Last summer, Langley Park School for Girls and the neighbouring Langley Park School for Boys became locked in a dispute over a large-scale development at the boy’s school.

Bromley Council originally agreed to a complete overhaul of the boys’ school’s facilities in June, but the neighbouring girls’ school tried to overturn that decision at the High Court.

And, even though a High Court judge ruled against the challenge last month, the council says the girls’ school is now considering launching an appeal.

In an outspoken broadside at the school, executive councillor for children and young people Councillor Ernest Noad and council leader Stephen Carr “condemned the delaying and wrecking tactics” by governors and teachers at the girls’ school.

Cllr Noad said: “The actions of the girls’ school are not based on planning grounds as was proven in the High Court, rather they are designed to wreck the scheme and they hope that funding will be withdrawn. They seem to be against the rebuild in principle.

“This scheme forms part of our strategy for improving the infrastructure of our secondary schools.

“By delaying this scheme they are also placing that strategy at risk as well.”

Legal costs

The councillors are also angry that mounting a legal challenge would come from the girls’ school’s own budget - ultimately funded by the taxpayer.

Cllr Carr added: “The main priority must be the children’s education which they should receive in fit-for-purpose premises.

“With this uppermost in our minds, the girls' school head teacher and their chairman of governors should consider their position.”

The plans would mean the majority of the existing buildings at the boys’ school in Hawksbrook Lane, Beckenham, would be demolished and replaced with state-of-the-art buildings, sports hall and numerous sports pitches.

Both schools are council-run, foundation facilities.

The chairman of governors at Langley Park School for Girls, Nick Moore, says he fully supports the rebuild at the boys’ school.

But he added: “I am genuinely shocked by Cllr Noad’s vitriol. It is outrageous for him to accuse us of ‘delaying and wrecking tactics’.

“Those who have seen the actual plans understand the girls school’s objection to the location of a large new building and all-weather pitch with high protective fencing just metres away from our buildings and windows.

“I have never had any approach or representation from Cllr Noad so am both saddened and puzzled as to why he now wishes to take issue with me in the press.

“They should now be writing to congratulate Langley Park School for Girls on its recent outstanding Ofsted inspection result, not attacking a leading school which they are fortunate to have in their borough.”

Injunction threats

And in a letter to parents, the chairman of governors at the boys’ school, Charles Grimble, claims Langley Park School for Girls is threatening to take out an injunction to stop any building on a “right of way” across the playing fields.

Mr Grimble added: “We do not accept that the girls’ school, or any other party, has, or attempts to exercise, any right of way across any part of our land and, consequently, we view this as another attempt by the girls’ school to derail the much needed redevelopment of our school.

“Unfortunately, therefore, we have reluctantly had to take the unusual and highly undesirable step of issuing proceedings in the High Court against the governing body of the girls’ school to seek a declaration that the girls’ school has no right of way across our land.

“Such a declaration will prevent the girls’ school from seeking an injunction in the future which would be costly for us to defend and would delay completion of the redevelopment.”