Heartless vandals have left a school minibus immobile, pupils at Overmonnow Primary School learned this week. Teachers arrived at work on Friday morning to find the exhaust and catalytic converter removed from the bus. It is believed that the platinum material the thieves took will be sold on for hundreds of pounds. The Monmouth school, that also houses a unit that caters for disabled children, was the first primary school in Monmouthshire to be awarded with a Variety Club bus and half of the £30,000 cost was met by Monmouth Rotary Club. Head Teacher, Huw Williams, is very saddened by the events: "We are planning now to cancel our regular trips to the swimming pool, stables and a visit to St. Fagans. "This has spoiled the end of term for the pupils and staff. "It's really quite shocking that anyone would choose to attack a bus that helps disabled children enjoy their education. The mini bus is fully- equipped to ensure people with disabilities are able to travel with minimum inconvenience and so we can't just use a standard vehicle in its place." Peter Fox, Leader of Monmouthshire County Council said: "The minibus was a fabulous asset to the school, there to enrich the lives of children and young people in the area. " I'm extremely disappointed that there are people within our community who would commit such a selfish act." The school also houses a unit that caters for disabled children has seen pupils enjoying a number of trips in comfort since the arrival of the new minibus. Staff and pupils from Overmonnow Primary School's Special Needs Unit travelled in comfort to Hereford last week to take part in horse riding sessions, an activity that has physical, emotional and educational benefits. Seven members of staff at the school accompanied fifteen pupils at the Home Lacey College of horse riding in Hereford. Lisa Davies, Classroom Assistant at the school, said that sessions with the horses have a huge effect on the pupils: "When pupils are in the saddle, the movement of the horse is therapeutic and it improves posture, concentration and listening skills. "The children get a connection with the outdoors and, most of all, they thoroughly enjoy it. "One mother told me that the horse riding had drastically improved her child's confidence and provided a real sense of achievement. "Before we got our minibus we were reliant on other organisations to lend us their buses and they were brilliant." Overmonnow was the first primary school in Monmouthshire to be awarded with a Variety Club bus and half of the £30,000 cost was met by Monmouth Rotary Club. The mini bus is fully-equipped to ensure people with disabilities are able to travel with minimum inconvenience. Head Teacher, Huw Williams said that although Monmouthshire County Council fund the unit as well as the rest of the mainstream school facilities and staff, anyone can make a donation to cover the costs of taxing and insuring the vehicle by calling the school on 01600 713458.
