Pool vandalised at Spring Hill Primary School, Accrington

The pop-up swimming pool at Spring Hill Community Primary School, in Exchange Street, has been vandalised meaning children have had to miss out on swimming lessons.

Vandals have caused damage to the filter, switched off the heater and affected the chemicals in the pool which resulted in a loss of two day's swimming.

On Sunday (July 7), vandals got into the pool again despite the school fencing off the marquee and securing it, as well as hiring security to patrol the site.

Pool at Spring Hill Community Primary School in Accrington, has been vandalised (Image: Spring Hill Community Primary School)

According to headteacher Laura Wilson the vandal(s) “slashed the pool liner beyond repair” causing more than £5,000 in damages and loss of swimming time.

The vandal(s) reportedly came on site the night after (July 8), ripped down CCTV and smashed some light domes. Laura said there is also some internal water damage in the school.

Lancashire Police were called on July 9 and said the “investigation is ongoing”.

Ms Wilson said: “This has resulted in children missing out on swimming lessons and swimming assessments to check who is able to swim 25 metres, and the memorable experience of swimming whilst at school.

Pool at Spring Hill Community Primary School in Accrington, has been vandalised (Image: Spring Hill Community Primary School in Accrington)

“As a school family, we are trying to find a solution that allows the children to receive the experience while developing the skills that we had planned for.

"However, time is now short as we only have one week and two days before we break up.”

The pop-up swimming pool was hired so the school could provide swimming lessons, water safety sessions and develop water confidence to pupils in key stage two (KS2), rather than taking one class of children to swim at the leisure centre.

Ms Wilson said: “We consulted with parents who had shared their concerns about boys and girls swimming together.

"Spring Hill serves a predominantly Muslim community. The pop-up pool not only allowed us to teach all of our KS2 pupils to swim but we were able to split groups according to gender to respect the wishes of parents.”

Pool at Spring Hill Community Primary School in Accrington, has been vandalised (Image: Spring Hill Community Primary School)

It is not the first time the school has been targeted by vandals. In March, wooden seats at the school were torched. It appeared a child’s black sock had been used to cover a CCTV camera while the damage was done.

Ms Wilson said she is concerned more acts of vandalism could occur in the future.

She added: “We have had a fire on our playground, damage to our forest school area and now to our pop-up pool.

“We pride ourselves on providing an offer that extends beyond the academic. Our vision for children is that we raise individuals to be inclusive, inquisitive, and inspirational for life beyond school.

“The recent attacks are the antithesis of what we want our children to experience. 

“We also would like to continue to offer [swimming experiences] in the future but are very concerned that we could be targeted again. 

“We would welcome any local person or businesses who think they could support the school to get in touch with the school.”

A police spokesperson said: “On July 9, we were called at around 2.13am to Spring Hill Community Primary School, Exchange Street, Accrington, to reports of criminal damage.

“Officers attended and an investigation is ongoing.”