BURGLARS have ransacked a school of tens of thousands of pounds’ worth of power cables in “a sophisticated theft”, meaning pupils have been forced to learn from home whilst electricity is restored.

Sir Frederick Gibberd College, in Tendring Road, Harlow, has been closed since Monday after cables were stripped from the site, leaving the school bereft of power.

The break-in is further bad news for Sir Frederick Gibberd College, after it was announced in October the school would delay the start of the new school term due to facilities not being ready for winter.

From Wednesday, November 1 until Monday, November 13, learning took taken place online for Year 8 to Year 11 pupils whilst the school was made fit for purpose.

The school has now closed once again whilst bosses work with an insurance provider and the Department for Education to replace the equipment and restore power to the building.

A statement released by BMAT Education CEO Helena Mills on Monday apologised to pupils and parents, adding that the theft was sophisticated and prepared.

She said: “We are sorry about this.

“There is security onsite provided by the Department for Education but this was a well-planned, sophisticated theft.

“We are now putting in place with the Department for Education additional CCTV, security personnel, as well as fencing around the generator to minimise the chances of this happening again.

“A full timetable of online learning will continue throughout the period of the site being closed.”

A previously scheduled in-service day on Friday has been cancelled, but in-person teaching will go ahead the same day should the school be deemed fit to be reopened.

Plans for an in-service day this Friday for Year 7 pupils will go ahead, however.

A one-hour parent meeting will still take place on Thursday, November 30 with minister for school systems Baroness Barran, Robert Halfon MP, representatives from Harlow and Essex County Council, and Helena Mills.

The meeting will take place from 8pm until 9pm in the main hall of the temporary accommodation at Sir Frederick Gibberd College.