PLANS to give Worcester’s flagship academy school a £15.4 million revamp could still go ahead despite the axe falling on building projects elsewhere in the county.

We reported in yesterday’s Worcester News how the Government had pulled the plug on £120 million funding earmarked for rebuilding and refurbishing five schools in the Wyre Forest.

However, the Department for Education is still reviewing 123 academy building projects across the country on a “case-by-case basis” – Tudor Grange Academy in Bilford Road, Worcester, included – meaning there is hope yet for the project, which would get its money from a slightly different funding stream to the now defunct Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. We reported on Friday how plans include transforming the existing buildings to a more modern design, 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 brand new entrance “plaza”.

Tudor Grange’s principal Claire Maclean was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Monday’s announcement that BSF was being brought to an end – and with it projects for Stourport High School and Sixth Form Centre; Bewdley School and Sixth Form Centre; Wolverley CE Secondary School, and Baxter College along with King Charles I School and Sixth Form Centre, both Kidderminster – has left education chiefs at Worcestershire County Council “extremely disappointed” but it has also shattered dreams to upgrade a number of schools in Worcester, Malvern and Redditch at a later date.

Headteacher Neil Morris said Christopher Whitehead Language College in St John’s, Worcester, needs about £5 million more funding to finish its redevelopment programme.

“No one says working in pre-fab or run-down 1950s buildings is good because it’s not,” he said.

“You only have to see how the children treat and work in the new buildings here to see that.”

Mr Morris said he realised money is difficult to come by given the country’s economic situation but that it was “very frustrating”.

He also said he is worried Worcester might be in danger of getting “left behind” because it is also “poorly funded”.

The city’s MP Robin Walker has already said it is even more important he tries to get Worcester’s schools a fairer funding deal.