Fury as Michael Gove's visit to come during summer holidays

Education secretary Michael Gove will not visit Sandwell to apologise to schools for the rebuilding funds fiasco until after the summer holidays begin.

It had been hoped Mr Gove would visit the borough before the end of the school term to apologise in person for the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) chaos.

The news comes on the same day shadow schools secretary Ed Balls visited Menzies High School Science College to chat to staff and students who have lost £26 million of BSF funding.

Mr Gove vowed to visit Sandwell as soon as possible after nine local schools were mistakenly told last week their £138m of BSF funding was secure.

Sandwell Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper said today: "When I spoke to Mr Gove at a face-to-face meeting he told me he would review his decision and also come to the borough at a date convenient to us in Sandwell.

"It now turns out the earliest he can come is July 27, when all the schools have broken up for the summer holidays.

"It is disappointing because the whole point is not to talk to me but to explain to local parents and pupils why he has scrapped so many of our school projects — they want answers."

Most Sandwell secondary schools were mistakenly told last week they had been granted millions for building projects but the wrong information had been given out.

The situation led to widespread fury and frustration, with West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson blasting Mr Gove as a "miserable pipsqueak" in a heated Commons exchange.

Schools losing out included Bristnall Hall, Heathfields, Perryfields, Wood Green, Stuart Bathurst and Manor and Menzies. Special schools and pupil referral units also lost projects.