School hit with £20,000 bill after break-in

5:21pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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A SCHOOL has been hit with a £20,000 bill after burglars broke in and stole more than 20 computers and two white boards.

Staff at Castlefield School in High Wycombe discovered the equipment was missing while opening up the building this morning.

The break-in, which is believed to have happened at around 2am, is the third time the school in The Middleway has been targeted in just two weeks.

Over the May Day bank holiday its front door was bashed in and this weekend small boulders, which had been thrown at the building, were found in the carpark.

During the latest attack a large window was completely smashed and thieves wrenched two interactive whiteboards from classroom walls, leaving cabling dangling from the plasterwork.

Twenty-four laptops and other smaller pieces of equipment, such as calculators, were also taken in the raid.

Lessons went on as normal today but one of the classrooms had to remain shut while it was tidied up and made safe for pupils. It is expected to be re-opened by tomorrow.

Matthew Flannigan, headteacher at the school since September, described the attack as "mindless" and said he was considering tightening security by installing CCTV cameras around the building.

"We've got to take into account how much money we have but it may well be something we look into," he added.

Year six students at the school are preparing for their SATS exams this week, but Mr Flannigan said their studies would not be effected by the damaged classrooms.

He added: "The laptops weren't being used for the SATS so it hasn't had an impact on that. We managed to get one of the classrooms up and running, but one is out of action.

"You could get disheartened but you have got to keep the place safe and positive. We have got enough challenges without letting things like this get to you, you just keep going.

"It's not going to put us off in anyway."

Police are now investigating the break-in. Anyone with information should call 08458 505 505 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.