The Government has given Staffordshire County Council the green light to invest £100 million in building new schools in Tamworth.

In a statement, Jim Knight, schools minister, confirmed the county council’s early bid to join the Building Schools for the Future programme has been successful. Staffordshire is one of eight local authorities to be fast-tracked to join the Building Schools for the Future programme this summer. Mr Knight said: “This is outstanding news for children, parents, and teachers.

“Building Schools for the Future will transform the shape of education in every single community and future generations will reap the rewards of these fantastic new learning environments and facilities.”

Councillor Robert Simpson, deputy leader of Staffordshire County Council said: “We are ecstatic at the news and I am delighted for the people of Tamworth.

“Building Staffordshire’s Future is a fantastic opportunity that will provide vital investment in Tamworth and be an excellent starting point to begin improving and transforming education throughout the whole county.

“It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It will improve the lives of generations of young people, their families and communities beyond all recognition over the next ten years.”

Following detailed consultation with Tamworth headteachers, a proposed structure for education in the district was submitted as part of the bid.

The proposal, which will go to full public consultation in the autumn, would see all current secondary sites retained with Queen Elizabeth’s Mercian School becoming the sixth form centre for the district and Woodhouse Business and Enterprise College becoming an academy.

Councillor Simpson added: “There are a number of big issues that BSF will be able to address including facilities that are no longer fit for purpose, a lower than average number of students going into further and higher education and poor post-16 performance.”

Following the consultation period, building work could begin in 2011.

To find out more and how to get involved visit www.staffordshire.gov.uk/bsf