Unfinished building work at schools has thrown the start of term into chaos for thousands of pupils.

In Brighton and Hove, Varndean School, Patcham High School and East Brighton College of Media Arts (Comart) will not be open on time.

All three schools have been undergoing work during the summer under the Government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme.

None will be ready for their scheduled reopening tomorrow because of the work.

Varndean School still looks like a "building site" and headteacher Andy Schofield is hoping the school can open on Monday.

He said: "It is not so much us who are inconvenienced, it's the kids and parents.

"People who have to work have a right muddle on their hands if they have not sorted childcare.

"We do expect a professional service, that is the point of PFI. I am not supposed to be spending all day walking around a building site."

The school is undergoing external and internal alterations by the firm Jarvis plc.

The outside work is not due to finish until the New Year but internal improvements to kitchens, toilets and offices should have been finished well before the start of term.

Dr Jill Clough, headteacher of Comart, also expressed frustration.

She said: "Teachers seriously need access to the school to prepare.

"It is not reasonable to expect them to prepare at home.

"I am keeping my fingers crossed they will be allowed in on Thursday. We will be opening for pupils on Tuesday.

"At the moment, pupils will lose three days from their year. But I think the preparation is so much more important than adhering to the dogma of bringing the children in on time and them coming in to find things disorganised."

A spokeswoman for Patcham High School confirmed the scheduled opening was being delayed by a day.

The school was due to open for Years 7 and 11 tomorrow and the rest of the school on Friday.

Year 7 pupils will now start on Friday with the remainder on Monday.

As well as the three secondary schools, there has also been building work at Stanford Junior School, whose start of term has also been put back until Monday.

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: "The start of term will be slightly delayed at four schools.

"Three of these have had building work done during the summer recess as part of our PFI school improvement project.

"A huge amount of work has been carried out, which will bring tremendous improvements to each school.

"We very much regret the disruption caused by the late starts to term but the health and safety of pupils and staff has to be our first consideration."

Nobody from Jarvis plc was available for comment yesterday.