Headteacher Derrick Brown got down on his knees in support of plans to sell playing fields to fund a new school.

Photos released by Ashmole this week show Mr Brown mopping up water from a leaking ceiling following recent storms.

The school, in Cecil Road, Southgate, hopes the pictures will galvanise support for the sell-off of six acres of playing fields to a property developer. Money would fund desperately-needed new buildings.

Outline proposals for 88 Barratt homes are due to come before councillors for the third time on Tuesday.

'It's a make-or-break moment in the life of Ashmole. We desperately need this new school,' said Mr Brown. 'The fact is that the premises as they are will not be useable for much longer ,, they are falling apart around us.'

One classroom has already been closed for safety reasons ahead of the September term. Governors believe the toned-down development ,, which originally involved 100 houses and 15 flats ,, will bring economic prosperity to the area.

They say they have the backing of parents and community organisations. But the proposals, which would net millions of pounds for the 42-year-old school, have met intense opposition from residents since being revealed by the Barnet & Potters Bar Times in February last year.

Members of action group BACSS cite increased traffic congestion, disruption and overdevelopment.

East Barnet Tory councillor Olwen Evans, who lives in neighbouring Summit Way, said: 'Other schools are in exactly the same position as Ashmole and they are not selling off land.'

Neighbouring Enfield councillors are also opposed to the scheme. Tory Southgate Green councillor Pamela Adams said: 'We're not against the school. We're against a development that's going to affect residents.'