With the rundown classrooms in need of serious upgrades, the students themselves are part of a push to get the Victorian government to commit to funds for a long-promised whole school rebuild.

The students have already got 180 likes on their recently launched Facebook page — “Let’s Build Up Beechworth Secondary College” — and, with the support of the school council and principal, John Hunter, are drawing attention to their sub-standard learning facilities.

“There’s nothing worse that having to go into a classroom, have it be freezing cold in winter and not being able to open the windows in summer,” year 11 student Riannon Garvey said.

Dane Asplet, from year 9, agreed, adding that working in portables with no soundproofing from other classes made it hard to focus on their own learning.

Several classrooms have been boarded up due to asbestos and look more like a building site than a school — in one instance, students are working just metres from an off-limits room.

The 240-student school received Department of Education approval almost a decade ago for its demolition and rebuild.

In 2008, a new administrative building and arts/technology wing were constructed, and a master plan for the rest of the school was approved in 2010.

But Mr Hunter said the department parked the project until after the 2010 election and no funding has been forthcoming.

He said 18 months ago, he was told not to do any maintenance as money would be allocated in this year’s budget — but that hasn’t materialised.

“When you’ve got the master plan sitting there and you know what the school could be like, it is frustrating,” he said.

“I think some parents are unfortunately put off by the standard of the buildings, it’s not what they expect from 21st century education.”

Mr Hunter and school council president Tracey O’Callaghan said they had contacted Benambra MP Bill Tilley but had not received a response.

Mr Tilley said he had received their correspondence and had written to the Education Minister and department several times, and that Beechworth Secondary was a high priority.

“I’m well aware of their situation and I’ve been fighting for them in the mix,” he said.

“But I won’t lie, there are other schools in Benambra that are just as a high a priority.

“We need to work together to get the money for the work to come out of the budget.”

He could not say why the school missed out in the last budget, but said the government was committed to the region’s education needs, pointing to upgrades at Wodonga Secondary and Belvoir Special School as examples.

Labor candidate for Benambra Jennifer Podesta, who toured the school yesterday with Upper House Member for Northern Region Marg Lewis, said the school urgently needed attention.

"I've been to a lot of schools in the electorate and this one really stood out for me," Ms Podesta said, as she vowed to fight for funding if elected.

"Asking young people to learn in buildings like these is not on. They are a disgrace and students cannot be expected to succeed and to value education if we don’t provide appropriate spaces for them to learn in."