Latest news with #schooldamage
BBC News
09-07-2025
- BBC News
Vandalised school in Bilston to reopen as fundraiser started
A school targeted by vandals in a "violent rampage" that caused damage estimated at £100,000 is to Park School and nearby Stowlawn Primary School in Bilston were broken into and vandalised last Thursday before the intruders were disturbed by a caretaker and fled the have returned to Stowlawn on Wednesday in preparation for it to fully open on Thursday, the council said. Green Park reopened on teenagers arrested over the incident have since been released on bail. A fundraiser has also been set up to help both schools. The vandals smashed computer equipment, doors and whiteboards. They also let off fire extinguishers and attempted to start fires inside the schools which are both on the same road.A GoFundMe page set up by Linda Leach said the community was "deeply upset" by the damage and appealed for donations to replace equipment."These schools are more than just buildings - they are places of learning, growth, and community. To see it disrespected like this is painful," she said."This fundraiser is being set up to show the students, teachers, and staff that we support them. "Acts of destruction will never overpower the spirit of education and unity that lives within those walls."West Midlands Police said on Monday a 15 and 16-year-old were arrested on suspicion of burglary over the weekend and had since been released on bail pending further inquiries. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- BBC News
Two teens arrested over vandalism at Bilston schools
Two teenagers have been arrested over damage to two primary schools, estimated to cost £100,000 to broke into Green Park and nearby Stowlawn, near Wolverhampton, at about 20:30 BST on Thursday before being disturbed by a caretaker and fleeing the scene, the city council and toilets were damaged, interactive whiteboards were smashed, iPads and ICT equipment destroyed and fire extinguishers were set off. Attempts were also made to start fires Midlands Police said a 15 and 16-year-old were arrested on suspicion of burglary over the weekend and had since been released on bail pending further inquiries. The Bilston schools, on the same road, remain closed on Monday due to the incident which also saw a mobile swimming pool damaged and changing rooms ransacked. The total cost of the damage has been estimated at £100,000 by the council, which described the vandalism as sickening. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- BBC News
Vandals cause £100k damage to two Wolverhampton schools
"Mindless vandals" have caused damage to two schools near Wolverhampton in a "violent rampage", the city council has Park School, which caters for children with special educational needs and disabilities, and nearby Stowlawn Primary School, were broken into and vandalised by intruders at about 20:30 BST on Thursday, before they disturbed by a caretaker and fled the officers have been on site in Bilston with police and school staff to assess the damage, which is estimated at over £100,000. Police investigations are now under way. The council said the intruders had caused "major criminal damage", including damaged external and internal doors, as well as fire doors, while toilets and interactive whiteboards were smashed, iPads and ICT equipment were also destroyed, and fire extinguishers were discharged.A mobile swimming pool was also damaged and changing rooms ransacked, and attempts were made to start fires inside a and carers were notified of the incident and told that both schools were closed on Friday. It is unclear when they will reopen. The leader of the local authority, councillor Stephen Simkins, branded the acts of vandalism as "disgusting" and called for the prosecution of those said: "We are absolutely appalled by this disgusting act of mindless vandalism. "Those who have committed this crime need to be caught and prosecuted to the full power of the law. These idiotic vandals are a blight on our communities and we will not tolerate them."Together, we must stand against this kind of senseless behaviour and reaffirm our commitment to protecting our schools and the children and young people who depend on them". Councillor Jacqui Coogan said the vandalism had caused "so much upset and disruption for staff, children and families" at both schools and that repairs would cost upwards of £100,000."This is money that the schools, the council and the city's taxpayers can ill afford," she Park headteacher Lorraine Downey said: "Our heartfelt thanks goes to our brave community caretaker, who intercepted the intruders."Stowlawn Primary headteacher, Kate Charles, said: "We are absolutely devastated that someone would choose to target our schools like this for no reason. The impact over the past few hours for the staff, children and our families has been immense."However, the local authority support has been amazing, as have the police, and we have received so many messages of support from our amazing families and local community."Luckily the damage is repairable and we are working to welcome our children back to school as soon as we can." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
CTV News
13-05-2025
- CTV News
Portable damaged at Kitchener school
Police are looking for the person or people responsible for damage to a school portable in Kitchener. Waterloo Regional Police were first told about the damage on Thomas Slee Drive on Tuesday around 8:30 a.m. Groh Public School is the only school on Thomas Slee Drive. They said the portable window appeared to have been have been hit by a projectile, possibly from a BB gun. Investigators believe it happened between 11 p.m. on Monday and 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday. Anyone with more information is asked to contact police.
