Denton MP Andrew Gwynne has again raised the plight of Russell Scott Primary School in the House of Commons. 

The Denton school was the subject of a botched refurbishment by the collapsed construction giant Carillion back in 2015. Following concerns, an independent defect report commissioned found in 2017 found that there were severe issues with the building. 

Problems include significant damage to the external and internal draining, inadequate ventilation, uneven floors and damage. Repairing the school will cost an estimated £5 million. The defects are so structurally embedded, however, some have called for the school to be totally rebuilt. 

Gwynne has been calling on the Government to intervene to help Russell Scott Primary School for several years. Despite meeting with representatives for the Department for Education on a number of occasions, and submitting formal requests for funding, the school has so far not received the requisite assistance from the Government. 

Denton MP Andrew Gwynne speaking in the House of Commons 

In Parliament last Thursday, Gwynne quizzed the Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt on next steps. He called on the Government to "recognise the importance of good quality school buildings, and particularly the plight of Russell Scott Primary School".

Mordaunt pledged to make representations on Gwynne's behalf to "ensure that a Minister picks this [Russell Scott] up quickly". 

Commenting on the exchange, MP Gwynne said: "The staff at Russell Scott are exceptional, but they have been let down by this botched Carillion refurbishment and there has been a lack of urgency from the Government to help them out. 

"Students deserve to be taught in a safe and secure environment, and it has been very frustrating to try and get action on this with the chopping and changing of Ministers in Government. 

"I was encouraged by the Minister's response to my question last week and look forward to hearing from the Department for Education as soon as possible. I won't quit until Russell Scott receives long-overdue support from the Government."

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