A Kings Langley School student has written to the Secretary of State for Education, in a bid to have the school’s facilities improved.

Kings Langley School, in Love Lane, is in the running for a £15 million rebuild after becoming one of only four in the county to be put forward for special government funding.

The Department for Education has set aside millions of pounds for a Priority Schools Rebuilding Programme which aims to tackle 100 of the most dilapidated in the UK.

Hertfordshire County Council nominated the school after an Ofsted report concluded its current buildings, built in the 1960s, are restricting its development.

Hoping to boost the school’s chances of receiving the funding, head boy Ben Saddler wrote to MP Michael Gove, after attending a speech the Conservative minister gave in Westminster on December 5.

The 17-year-old student, from Abbots Langley, said: “One of the commitments of my role is the improvement of the school and its facilities. Year on year our results improve; not only in terms of academic achievement, but we also have an excellent reputation for sports, drama, dance, music and art.

“But as a school aspiring to become outstanding, we need facilities which allow us to prosper and currently our facilities are hardly adequate.”

In his letter Ben highlighted how the school’s dilapidated buildings and poor facilities were hindering learning.

He explained how the lack of a sports hall was preventing potential athletes from excelling and how drama and dance facilities are practically non-existent, as are ICT services.

He also claimed current sixth form facilities were deterring students from applying to the school.

In response to his letter, Mr Gove praised Ben for taking such as close interest in the school He wrote: “I know you and other pupils from your school recently met the Director responsible for School Funding, Sarah Healey, to present a petition which highlighted the situation at your school.

“At the moment all applications from schools and local authorities to be included in the PSBP are being considered and assessed against the criteria set out in the application guidance.

“Until we have completed a fair and rigorous assessment of all applications received, it would not be right for me to comment on any individual application.

“The announcement of schools which are selected to participate in the programme will be made in early 2012.”

Gary Lewis, Headteacher of Kings Langley School, said he felt proud of Ben’s decision to write to Mr Gove.

He said: “Ben Saddler, as our head boy, is a perfect example of a "doer" rather than an observer. I am not in the least surprised that he was able to show obvious initiative and write directly to the Secretary of State.

“When Ben met Michael Gove at a recent function, Mr. Gove was clearly impressed with his polite, but forthright and articulate approach.

“An approach which was backed up by a passionate pride in his school and a determination to ensure Kings Langley is at the forefront of Michael Gove's mind when his department makes crucial decisions on school investment.”