School where pupils 'wear coats in classrooms' because it's so cold wins 30-year battle to replace windows

Templewood Primary School campaigners outside council meeting
-Credit: (Image: Charlotte Johnstone/Templewood Governors)


A primary school in Welwyn Garden City can finally get double-glazed windows after a 30-year battle with the council. Templewood Primary School is a post-war Grade II* listed building and still has its original single-glazed windows - which have led to a £45,000 a year energy bill and pupils being forced to wear coats in winter because it is so cold.

But that is set to change after councillors went against a recommendation that they refuse permission for new heritage windows and doors at a packed Development Management Committee meeting yesterday (Thursday, September 12). A crowd of children, parents, teachers and school governors turned up to the meeting to show their support, with many having to stand to watch the debate.

Council officers had deemed the development “would materially harm the significance and character” of the building and said “public benefits to outweigh the identified harm do not exist”. Historic England described the school as “an innovative and influential example of a 20th-century school building”, and said the original windows “are part of the design and interest” of the building. A previous application to replace them was rejected in 2014.

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Both Historic England and the council’s heritage consultant expressed concerns about the proposal but agreed only “less than substantial” harm would be caused by the changes in the windows. Councillors were told that Martin Cherry, who listed the building in the 1990s, said the plans “would be acceptable” and opposed alternative options such as installing secondary glazing.

Windows at Templewood Primary School in Welwyn Garden City
Windows at Templewood Primary School in Welwyn Garden City -Credit:Carbon Engineering/Templewood Governors/LDRS

But, despite the school specifying that Crittall W20 windows would be used, concerns were raised about a lack of information, such as window-by-window measurements. A planning officer said if that information had “been present we might have been in a different position”. Councillors disagreed with the view taken by officers and unanimously voted to grant consent.

Headteacher Katherine Martindill invited councillors to “imagine trying to concentrate when the classroom is freezing cold in winter, forcing you to wear a coat indoors, or sweltering hot in the summer, making it almost impossible to focus”.

“This is the reality for our children, some as young as four years old" she said.

A Templewood Primary School pupil outside council meeting
A Templewood Primary School pupil outside council meeting -Credit:Charlotte Johnstone/Templewood Governors

She said the emergency exit doors to be replaced were identified as a “significant” health and safety risk as far back as 2012. And Ms Martindill warned the “future of Templewood is currently uncertain” due to the high energy costs. She said they are in the highest 2.2 per cent of costs among similar schools nationally.

Cllr Lucy Musk (Lab, Haldens) suggested the council was in danger of “putting the importance of the building above the importance of children”. She worried the school would end up as a “crumbling building because we’ve put the type of windows … above the needs of the children, parents and teachers.

“Never mind it [being] a school, not a museum - it’s going to be a mausoleum," she added.

Cllr Roger Trigg (Con, Welwyn East) and Cllr Barbara Fitzsimon (Con, Northaw and Cuffley) said they were “shocked” at the state of the windows when they visited, and Cllr Fitzsimon added it was “totally unacceptable” children had to wear coats in classrooms. Cllr Jill Weston (Lab, Howlands) described the decision as “common sense”, while Cllr Helena Goldwater (LD, Hatfield South West) raised fears that “old windows can create respiratory issues or make them worse, and will probably increase school absences”.

Windows at Templewood Primary School
Windows at Templewood Primary School -Credit:Carbon Engineering/Templewood Governors

Only one councillor, Cllr Anthony Skottowe (LD, Handside), initially voted in favour of the officers’ recommendation. He supported the principle of replacing the windows and said HCC’s care of the building was “frankly a disgrace”, but raised concerns about whether there was a valid legal reason to go against the recommendation. Cllr Skottowe said he was “appalled” by the lack of information in the application.

It is a condition of the listed building consent that detailed plans for the windows are submitted before work can begin. After the decision was made, Hillary Skoczylas, Chair of Governors at Templewood, told BBC Three Counties Radio: “We are extremely thrilled.

“We hoped … common sense would prevail, but you’re never quite sure. To get unanimous consent was absolutely amazing.”

Hertfordshire County Council have been contacted for comment.