Children who are being taught at a temporary site while their school undergoes a rebuild had to go without physical education during their first week back as facilities were deemed not up to scratch.

Marlborough School in Marlborough Hill, Harrow, began its temporary stay across the road at Harrow Council’s Civic Centre in Station Road as the school year kicked off last week, however the allocated outdoor area – formerly a council car park which was refurbished over the summer, was not up to headteacher Julia Drozdowskij’s standards.

During the first week back, children were walked over to their usual school for breaks and lunch time while the council had the area ‘professionally swept’. The indoor facilities planned as an alternative venue for PE classes, which form a part of the national curriculum, were also not yet ready.

One parent who wished not to be named said: “When the council were presenting us with its plans for the move, they assured us that all the facilities would be fantastic, and that included an outside area for them to play in and to have PE classes in.

“Now the classrooms are fantastic and very spacious, but there is nowhere for them to have a break or have proper PE classes....the headteacher and all her staff at that school are fantastic but do not have the proper facilities.”

Children have since been able to use the outdoor space both for breaks and PE lessons.

A council spokesman said: “There were some minor issues with grit in the playground and a couple of uneven surfaces.

“These have now been corrected and PE classes and playtime have resumed as normal. Outdoor playtimes were held for a few days at the old school site so pupils did not miss out.

“In coming days we will be resurfacing the playground to improve its quality still further.”

An entire rebuild of Marlborough School as a part of the borough-wide school expansion programme is expected to be completed by December 2015, with children continuing to be taught at the temporary site until then.