Early start for £160m school rebuild

A massive £160 million building project for schools in the Wyre Forest district could be started three years earlier than scheduled.

Worcestershire County Council is making an early bid for vital Government funding to ensure work can go-ahead on at least five schools across the district.

The ambitious building programme follows a major review of education.

All middle schools have been axed under the change from a three to two-tier education system.

Following the shake-up, 45 first, middle and high schools closed their doors last July and 30 new and merged primary and secondary schools opened in their place.

The move is due to falling pupil numbers and different standards of education.

Under the plans, £160 million is to be ploughed into education in the district through council and Government funding.

Councillors are bidding for money from the Government's Building Schools for the Future programme to speed up the project.

But the authority has to ensure £4.5 million is available from their own funds during the next three years to support the scheme.

The call for funding comes three years earlier than expected and if successful, rebuilding work will start on Baxter College and King Charles I School in Kidderminster, Stourport High and Wolverley High Schools.

A partial rebuild is also planned at Bewdley High School and a new special school for Wyre Forest has also been recommended.

Members of the council's cabinet have been told that the Government is expected to announce in June whether the council's bid for funding has been successful.

If the authority fails to get the cash this time officials are expected to submit another application in the Autumn or early next year.