A HEADTEACHER has highlighted the lack of sports facilities available at his school after the issue was highlighted in the House of Commons.

Students at The Hollins Technology College in Accrington have been forced to playing table tennis in the changing rooms due to the lack of space for sports, according to Steve Campbell.

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It comes after Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said during a parliamentary debate that funding had been pulled after the Building Schools for the Future scheme was scrapped in 2010.

A sports hall was included in plans when the Hollins Lane school was built in 1967 but it never materialised.

Mr Campbell said: “A lot of schools got funding for sports halls in the 1980s and 1990s but the Hollins missed out.

“We were included in the next wave of building schools for the future but that was scrapped after the 2010 election.

“We are more than aware Lancashire County Council does not have funds for capital builds so we use a very small 1960s gym.

“We have to use our school hall for PE lessons but that is all thrown out the window when we have mock exams on or a show.

“We have had to set table tennis tables up in the changing rooms because we do not have adequate space.”

The school has recently used more than £20,000 to replace the floor in the gym.

In response to Mr Jones’s question in parliament, schools minister Nick Gibb said there is £420million available under the healthy schools capital programme.

Mr Campbell said it would cost around £1million to build a decent hall.

“If there is £420million available I can’t see them giving £1million to one school,” he said.

He said if they had a larger space they could teach more than one class at a time and increase the range of sports students could play.

It could also be used for community groups.

Mr Campbell said space is a major issue at The Hollins because numbers are rising and the school is oversubscribed.

“Funding is getting worse and all of the schools are losing out. We are losing £58,000 from our budget and that is not sustainable. We are not getting any more money and not getting anything for capital spending,” he added.

In the debate Mr Jones said every school in Hyndburn will see cuts to school budgets as well to fund major improvements.