Five schools are hit by funding backtrack
Schools in Amber Valley are among hundreds in the country that have been hit by the new Government's decision to withdraw funding to improve buildings.
The national Building Schools for the Future programme was scrapped yesterday and will see Swanwick Hall School, among those that will miss out on millions of pounds to pay for new classrooms and facilities.
Headteacher Johnathan Fawcett told the News in April about the plans, which were set to include the demolition of a classroom built in the 70s.
Other work, costing millions, was set to see the building of three new teaching blocks.
Mr Fawcett, said: "Naturally we are very disappointed that the BSF is not going to continue. We have spent two years working very hard with stakeholders on the exciting plans and felt we were going to create a first class education system for the 20th century and provide a facility that the students deserve."
He said a lot of emotional investment had been put into the project and he was still determined to make improvements to the school which is in need of P.E space. He will apply pressure on the local authority and lobby for funding.
He added: "We already provide a high quality education and will continue to do that in the short term.
"We do need a significant capital injection which can only come from a Government project."
Derbyshire County Councillor Alan Charles has called the move a "callous announcement" that will condemn thousands of Derbyshire students to years of being taught in buildings that have long passed their normal life span.
Other schools in Amber Valley whose private finance initiatives to pay for building projects that have been stopped include Alfreton Grange Arts College, Frederick Gent School, and Swanwick School and Sports College.
The Tory Government has decided to shelve building programme to save billions of pounds.
More than 700 school revamps already signed up to the scheme will not now go ahead.
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Weather for Ripley
Wednesday 19 June 2013
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