The school that's so cramped pupils have to be taught in corridors

Pupils at West Green Primary School, in Crawley, West Sussex, are being taught in such cramped conditions that some of the children have to be taught in the school hallway.

Now parents, teachers and governors are rallying round to lobby West Sussex County Council into giving them extra cash to build more classrooms at the packed out school.

At the moment none of the 172 pupils at West Green School have access to a library, computer suite, medical room or small group rooms - which many primary schools across the country have.

The school is so cramped that two year groups are taught in the same classroom by one teacher and two classroom assistants.

Special needs teachers are forced to hold lessons in the corner of classrooms and are only given a space of their own to hold vital lessons with pupils during time slots where other classes have a PE lesson outside.

Headteacher Julie Dowling said: "We are very, very squashed at the moment.

"Since becoming a primary school three years ago we have outgrown the premises and are in need of facilities which are available to other school children in the town.

"Some years ago the county decided to turn West Green - which used to be a first school - into a primary school rather than close it down altogether.

"They knew it would only get bigger - but they have failed to plan ahead.

"It is really not ideal."

Parents at the school are furious their children are being made to learn in such squashed conditions.

Tracy Coleman, who has a son at the primary school, said: "A lot of parents are really unhappy about it.

"My son's class is joined with another year and has 39 children in it - and they can't all fit in at once so have to use an area of the corridor outside.

"That is no way to learn.

"The lack of space and facilities is just unacceptable."

A council official said plans had been drawn up to extend the school - but a start date still had not been decided.

She said the school will not reach "cramped conditions" until a new influx of pupils join in September - and the primary school qualifies for a temporary classroom then.

A spokeswoman for West Sussex County Council said: "We provide additional accommodation to schools when a need is demonstrated in line with the Department for Education and Skills criteria.

"To date West Green Primary School has not reached this point, but is expected to do so in the new school year starting in September 2007."