Pupils at Keighley's Holy Family School could soon no longer be taught tennis and netball.

The school's three physical education teachers - Sue Greenwood, Paula McKillop and Dave Metcalfe - are fighting to save the school's one remaining area on which tennis and netball are taught. It is in a severe state of disrepair.

The upper hard-surface area was condemned by Bradford council's health and safety experts about seven years ago. It left more than 800 pupils to share the lower court area, which consists of two netball courts and four tennis courts. Holy Family is already the only upper school in Keighley without a sports hall.

Due to the state of the outdoor courts the school is struggling to deliver the basic requirements of the National Curriculum in physical education.

Sports staff say the balls bounce in all directions on the courts, and the surface is slippery and has to be swept regularly. Weeds grow through cracks in the surface which has pools of water on it, mud patches and crumbling edges.

Mr Metcalfe says: "The courts have not been maintained as they should have been, just odd patches here and there, which is not enough. We already have one condemned area and the other looks set to follow suit.

"We are struggling to deliver the National Curriculum which affects the pupils' education, because we don't have the facilities available. If this last area is condemned we won't be able to teach the children tennis and netball."

At a Bradford council resources and building sub-committee meeting late last year officers recommended that action to improve the area should be considered for inclusion on its outstanding minor works programme. The officers' comments were noted, but no further action has been taken.

Before the meeting, school governors demanded that Bradford finance chiefs fund a major re-building scheme, which will cost more than £30,000. This scheme also included an extension to the present sloping school car park.

A spokesperson for Bradford council's education directorate says: "Under Local Management of Schools, Holy Family is responsible for its own repair budget which covers items such as playground repairs.

"The council has included the request for repairs in its overall New Deal for Schools bid to the Department of Education and Employment. However, the schools steering group of heads, governors and diocesan representatives has backed the council's decision to give priority to building repairs - such as roofs and windows - and it is unlikely that money will be allocated for playground repairs.

"A report on Holy Family play area was considered by the resources and building sub-committee in January. It noted the bid and it is likely it will also be put forward for consideration in a future minor works programme."

Head-teacher Conor Davis has also hit out at education bosses and has been battling for the last four years to get something done.

He says: "It's absolutely scandalous. The car park and outdoor courts are the responsibility of the LEA and it has acknowledged that fact, but because it is unable to manage its financial work properly children are being denied an ad-equate outside hard-surface area."

Sue adds: "We are struggling to improve the children's performances because of the lack of facilities.

"When I started here 28 years ago the courts were in good shape. But over the years I've seen them just get worse and worse."

The sports staff are in the process of applying for a lottery grant to get the areas replaced.

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