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Herefordshire Council is disappointed at the announcement on 12th February that its bid for £150m of Government funding for new schools has been unsuccessful.
The Government has announced the 10 local authorities that have been successful in their bids for major funding to replace or rebuild high schools.
All of the successful bids are from Councils in major urban areas where social disadvantage is very high.
Cllr Don Rule, Cabinet Member (Education), said: “We did put together a very interesting bid for £150m to improve all the high school buildings in the County.
“We had hoped to be successful as a County serving a large rural area, and we are disappointed that all 10 of the successful bidders are Councils in the major city areas.”
Also responding to the Government decision, Eddie Oram, the Director of Education, said: “We have already contacted the DfES to arrange a meeting to talk about the prospects of being included in the next group of Councils to be supported.
“We have many needs we hope will be recognised.
“Whatever the outcome, however, we will continue to invest in high schools – both to maintain and improve the buildings.
“We will use the £1m maintenance programme budget to keep the buildings in good order.
“Major investment will also be made over the next 12 months at Kingstone, Peterchurch, Ross and Weobley which will not be wasted when whole school redevelopment does eventually take place.
“We are determined to provide the best possible school buildings for the County’s students.”
The Council submitted a bid last year under the Government’s “Building Schools for the Future” initiative which aims to replace or refurbish all secondary schools in the country by 2020.
Building Schools for the future
Herefordshire Council is disappointed at the announcement on 12th February that its bid for £150m of Government funding for new schools has been unsuccessful.
The Government has announced the 10 local authorities that have been successful in their bids for major funding to replace or rebuild high schools.
All of the successful bids are from Councils in major urban areas where social disadvantage is very high.
Cllr Don Rule, Cabinet Member (Education), said: “We did put together a very interesting bid for £150m to improve all the high school buildings in the County.
“We had hoped to be successful as a County serving a large rural area, and we are disappointed that all 10 of the successful bidders are Councils in the major city areas.”
Also responding to the Government decision, Eddie Oram, the Director of Education, said: “We have already contacted the DfES to arrange a meeting to talk about the prospects of being included in the next group of Councils to be supported.
“We have many needs we hope will be recognised.
“Whatever the outcome, however, we will continue to invest in high schools – both to maintain and improve the buildings.
“We will use the £1m maintenance programme budget to keep the buildings in good order.
“Major investment will also be made over the next 12 months at Kingstone, Peterchurch, Ross and Weobley which will not be wasted when whole school redevelopment does eventually take place.
“We are determined to provide the best possible school buildings for the County’s students.”
The Council submitted a bid last year under the Government’s “Building Schools for the Future” initiative which aims to replace or refurbish all secondary schools in the country by 2020.