8:40am Saturday 7th August 2010
By David Paine
WORCESTER’S flagship academy school will get a £15.4 million revamp after all.
The Department for Education (DfE) said yesterday that Tudor Grange Academy in Bilford Road will be given the necessary funding to get on with the project in the near future.
Tudor Grange was named alongside 43 other academies across the country to have “capital allocated” in a list released by the DfE but there was no joy for schools in the Wyre Forest.
While nobody was available for comment from Tudor Grange, yesterday’s announcement was welcomed by Worcester MP Robin Walker, a Conservative backbencher.
Mr Walker said he wrote to Education Secretary Michael Gove and “collared” the minister in Westminster to make sure he heard Tudor Grange’s case.
“This is really good news for Worcester and the community,” said Mr Walker.
Mr Walker said the work would help raise educational attainment.
Your Worcester News previous reported jow Tudor Grange’s plans include transforming the existing buildings into a more modern design and revamping the sports field with a new football pitch, tennis/basketball courts, athletics track and exercise stations.
The designs also include science gardens, a tree nursery and a new entrance “plaza”.
Another 75 academy projects across the country have been mothballed because their funding is dependent on the Government’s spending review.
There was no reprieve for schools in Wyre Forest.
We previously reported how Worcestershire County Council spent £3 million filling out applications for rebuilding Stourport High School; Bewdley School; Wolverley CE Secondary School, and Baxter College along with King Charles I School, both Kidderminster, only to be told in July that the £120 million funding had been axed.
Mr Gove, who visited Tudor Grange earlier this year, has been criticised for the way he has handled the cuts to the school rebuilding programme.
In a statement, he said of those that had got funding: “I know how hard councils and schools have worked on these projects and have been anxious to ensure we do all we can in difficult economic times to support the crucial work of raising educational standards.
“Planning for these projects is advanced and we’re keen they should proceed without further delay.”
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