'Planes so low you can see pilot'

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The school is in Heston, two miles from the airport, and teachers are deeply concerned about expansion.

Headteacher Debra Kane said: "It's already unbearable here and it's hard to imagine it being any worse. We're right under the flightpath and sometimes the planes go so low you can see the pilot."

Conditions at Springwell are so bad that last year BAA paid to double-glaze the school.

Mrs Kane and deputy Kamm Grewal agree the sound insulation has helped inside the classrooms but are still concerned about the noise if a teacher wants to open a window.

Mrs Kane said: "For years, every time a plane went overhead the teachers just used to stop talking and the children found it hard to concentrate.

"Games lessons and other outside activities are still just as noisy and it will be bad again in the summer when we want to open windows."

If expansion goes ahead planes will fly more regularly over Springwell. "More planes also means more chances of one coming down over a highly populated area," said Mrs Kane.

The school's double-glazing was paid for by BAA under a scheme where all schools and other community buildings, such as nursing homes, hospitals and libraries, which endure noise of 63 decibels or above, are eligible for a grant. BAA has pledged £25 million to pay for sound insulation.

So far, BAA has identified 43 schools and colleges and 21 other buildings which qualify.