Parents praise school staff's flood response

PARENTS at flood-hit Portobello High School today praised staff for their "speedy and professional response" to the incident.

Hundreds of pupils were sent home on Tuesday morning after the sixth floor was flooded over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The flood was caused by a tap being left on, and police are investigating the incident. Parent council chairman Ken Aitken said: "The Portobello High School parents council wishes to put on record its thanks to staff for the superb response they have shown to the incident."

But he added the flooding has highlighted the urgent need for a new school.

He said: "The vulnerability of the ageing infrastructure of the school to this kind of incident, however, is only too evident.

"It is unacceptable so many pupils had to be sent home, requiring parents to put ad hoc childcare arrangements in place."

The parent council is holding a meeting on May 26 to "insist" that the building is maintained to a suitable standard and plans for a new school are moved forward.