WEST Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett has joined a campaign to win funding for a village school where staff cannot deliver a vital part of the curriculum because of a lack of space.

For the second time in four years OFSTED inspectors have highlighted Northlew and Ashbury Parochial Primary School's unsatisfactory provision for physical education.

The school's 43 pupils have been forced into using the village hall for gym. But staff admit it is far from adequate because of a damp problem and lack of storage space and changing facilities. In their report OFSTED inspectors said the hall posed 'health and safety hazards'.

Headteacher Nicola Lampe said because pupil numbers were not on the rise the school was not considered a high priority case.

'If the county council is going to provide a school in the village then it has to provide equal rights to the curriculum,' she said. 'New housing is planned for the village so in a couple of years the pupil numbers could go up significantly anyway.'

The school currently consists of two classrooms, a small library and a hall/resource area which is used for assemblies, group activities and quiet study.

Mrs Lampe said with an additional two classrooms the hall and current classrooms could be made into a bigger space suitable for PE.

'This is what we are suggesting, but a space for ICT, a music room and a staff room incorporated in the plans would be nice,' she added. 'The school is also incredibly damp and is becoming a health hazard.'

After one five-year-old child, who had previously never suffered from asthma, had an asthma attack at the school and almost lost her life on the way to hospital, the school is highlighting the damp problem as a major concern.

Clerk to the governors Lawrence Jones said money had been spent on the majority of primary schools in the area in recent years but Northlew and Ashbury was still waiting for its share.

'I have been living here for ten years and the school has had no capital expenditure spent on it during that time,' he said. 'I don't think it has changed an awful lot since it was built in 1866.'

The village hall committee has unfortunately failed in its bid to get funding from the lottery for a hall refurbishment — and it has been described as 'totally inadequate' for use as a school gym by Devon County Council's assistant education officer Steve Keeble.

Mr Burnett said ensuring schools in his constituency were brought up to an acceptable level of accommodation had always been a priority for him and would continue to be.

'Rural primary schools need to be cherished and built up and refurbished,' he said. 'I have fought hard to get money from Central Government for projects like this and there is still money there.'

The MP, who said there was no excuse for having a damp school after hearing the plight of the young girl, said he would be returning to the school with Chris Dyer from County Hall who was responsible for allocating priority to projects to start things moving.

'I will endeavour to raise the impetus so we get this project on the priority list,' he said.