Government refuses £4m funding for Walsall academy

Joseph Leckie school had applied for a £4 million government grant to replace some of the older buildings but the application was turned down by the Department of Education.

The school on Walstead Road West, Delves, had applied for the funding for improvements for the school built more than 75 years ago.

The latest decision will halt plans to replace some of the school's oldest buildings and to provide a sixth form, more business, ICT and computing classrooms, dining and administrative areas.

The decision not to grant the funding was met with fury by Labour councillors Allah Ditta and Valerie Vaz who have voiced their disappointment over the refusal.

Valerie Vaz, who as MP for Walsall South campaigned for the funding, said she was appalled by the decision.

"I was outraged when the Conservative-led Government withdrew funds which had been allocated to Joseph Leckie Academy under the Labour Government's Building Schools for the Future programme in 2010.

"Having raised the issue at Prime Ministers Questions and Education Questions, I arranged a meeting with the Schools Minister alongside the head teacher, Keith Whittlestone and councillor Ditta.

The meeting was positive and it was agreed that an official would visit to see the state of the buildings and to advise the School. I am appalled that the school has now had to bid again in what is effectively a lottery to address serious issues including asbestos."

She added: "I congratulate Joseph Leckie Academy on continuing to provide a good education to students despite the poor state of repair of the buildings."

Councillor Ditta, who is a school governor and represents the Palfrey ward, added: "Despite all the difficulties Joseph Leckie faces with old and, in places, dilapidated facilities it is still managing to give a good education to the children of Walsall South. But this decision will only make it more difficult to continue doing that and in the long run, adversely affect children's education."

The school funding blow comes after plans to build a multi-million pound teaching block at the school was given the go ahead by planning bosses last week.

A £3.5m, three storey block will create 21 new classrooms and construction work will now begin later this month.

The Government funded revamp will replace run down classrooms and will be completed in March 2016.

The school became an academy in 2012 and currently has 1,200 pupils and 300 sixth-form students.

It has been battling for investment for several years years and missed out when the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme was scrapped in 2010.