05 August 2010

Council's Cut's Appeal Highlights Pupils' Futures

Leaders of a local council in England are set for crunch talks with Westminster Education Secretary Michael Gove to save Sandwell's schools' modernisation programme from the axe.

Council Leader Darren Cooper and Chief Executive Allison Fraser will be leading a delegation with Mr Gove in London to put the case for Building Schools for the Future (BSF).

They want the Government to reconsider its decision to axe nine projects in the rebuild and refurbishment programme.

The Government sparked confusion last month by mistakenly announcing all of Sandwell's Building Schools for the Future projects could go ahead.

Cllr Cooper said: "I will be pleading the borough's cause and telling the Secretary of State about the harm this decision will do to generations of young people.

"We need to modernise all our schools, not just some, and Building Schools for the Future was delivering this transformation.

"For the scheme to be stopped when we are so far down the line is wasteful, short-sighted and heart-breaking for pupils and parents."

Two BSF schools are under construction in Sandwell, Smethwick and Rowley learning campuses.

The council is currently developing plans for a further three schools, Oldbury Campus, Tipton Campus and Wednesbury Campus. Three academy schemes have been called in by the Government for further discussion.

(CD/GK)