The long-awaited revamp of a school which hit national headlines because of its crumbling state may stall indefinitely, it was claimed today.

Joseph Leckie Community Technology College in Walsall has been removed from a priority list and replaced by Alumwell Business and Enterprise College as the first to benefit from the government-funded Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Fears have been raised its planned overhaul could fall victim to anticipated hefty national spending cuts.

While work had been expected to start at the Walstead Road school in mid 2012 following its initial selection as a ‘sample scheme’, it will not now get under way until 2013 at the earliest.

The school in Delves hit the national headlines five years ago when its students made a video about the state of the crumbling buildings. A £6million government grant was awarded and an extension of 18 new classrooms and drama studio opened earlier this year but the rest of the school is still awaiting repair.

Walsall’s shadow education spokeswoman Councillor Barbara Cassidy said: “Any delay could spell disaster for the planned transformation of the Walstead Road West site, if a future government cuts the Building Schools for the Future fund.

“Walsall’s council has failed to keep its word and negotiate Joseph Leckie to be top of the list in the first phase of a £100 million government investment in the borough’s schools.

“The delay means the whole project would be pushed beyond a general election.

Tim Johnson, Walsall Council Executive Director for Regeneration, said: “We are focused on successfully delivering the programme as envisaged which will cover all six schools. If the full delivery of the BSF programme was affected in any way it would apply to all schools in the scheme and not just an individual one.”