School set for a huge facelift

A sixth Sandwell school is to benefit from a £25 million Government-funded rebuild when it becomes an academy from next year, it was revealed today.

Final negotiations are now also taking place with potential sponsors for the new academy at Tividale Community Arts College.

Ian Jones, Sandwell's cabinet member for education, said: "Everything is going well regarding the plans to develop Tividale as an academy. Talks are ongoing with the potential sponsors, although we cannot identify who they are at the moment. If everything goes according to plan we can expect to see the academy at Tividale open its doors in 12 months time."

Academies are state-maintained independent schools set up with the help of sponsors. Sandwell Academy – the borough's first – opened in September 2006. Academies at George Salter and Shireland schools opened in 2007 and two academies replacing Willingsworth and Dartmouth have just opened. The Q3 Academy, formerly Dartmouth High School, opened in Great Barr earlier this week.