More than 90% of the 33,000+ children educated in Hounslow's nurseries, schools and colleges are directly affected by aircraft noise.
Research published in The Lancet medical journal has shown that exposure to aircraft noise impairs children’s reading and memory development.
In simple practical terms, teachers cannot teach children when they can’t hear what they’re saying.
In 2006 an in depth property survey by Hounslow Council found that the cost of bringing the borough’s 79 schools in line with the government’s standards for noise and ventilation is £103.6m.
To date, both the government and BAA have refused to meet the cost of protecting Hounslow’s schoolchildren from the impact of aircraft noise.
Yet the government is pushing ahead with expansion plans that will mean more planes, more noise and more pollution for children being educated in Hounslow.
It is clear that the negative impact these proposals will have on all schools situated under a flightpath has not been considered.
The proposed introduction of mixed mode, for example, will bring an end to the quiet periods during which teachers in Hounslow schedule outdoor play.
Hounslow Council wants the government to take immediate steps to ensure that all of Hounslow’s children can enjoy an education free from incessant aircraft noise.
We believe the best way to achieve this is to introduce a statutory scheme that ensures all schools can meet national and international standards on noise and ventilation and to say no to any further expansion at Heathrow.