AT every turn Swindon's education authority never fails to disappoint.

It is failing in several respects, but at least we were supposed to feel safe in the knowledge that something was being done about it.

Inspectors who visited Hreod Parkway in April were appalled by the state of the buildings its teachers and pupils were having to put up with.

That was one of the reasons it failed its Ofsted report, and £1 million was placed in Swindon Council's budget for urgent repairs.

Councillors were surprised, therefore, when they were told at a recent meeting that the money had still to be spent.

Indeed, there are now arguments as to whether the money should be used at all this year or saved until next year to be spent on extra accommodation to meet the demand for more school places.

It all smacks of desperation.

Swindon's education authority is among the most poorly funded in the country, but there can be no excuses for not giving Hreod Parkway the attention it deserves.

After all, the problems have become so bad that insurers have increased the excess from £50,000 to £250,000.

The council needs to spend now or face the consequences later.