New Wolverhampton school to be built as part of £1bn education plan
A new secondary school is set to be built in the Black Country as part of £1 billion scheme to boost education.
Ministers have given Star Academies the go ahead to build a school in Wolverhampton, while 20 other free schools will be built elsewhere in the country.
The Lancashire-based trust runs 28 schools across the country, including six in Birmingham.
The West Midlands will also see millions of pounds spent on rebuilding projects at run down schools.
They include St Peter's Collegiate CofE School in Wolverhampton, Wombourne High School in Staffordshire, Belvidere School in Shrewsbury and King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy in Birmingham.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, the MP for South Staffordshire, said: "Today we are launching the first phase of our ambitious new schools programme, with 50 rebuilds and 21 new free schools.
"The rebuilding projects are just the start of our major ten-year programme, transforming hundreds of schools and improving the education of tens of thousands of children.
"Alongside this, over 15,500 children will now benefit from 21 new free schools across the country as we look to build back better after the pandemic.
"I am determined to get all children back into education as soon as possible, and will make sure we do not let the pandemic stand in the way of giving every young person the opportunity to succeed, progress and fulfil their potential."
Wolverhampton South West MP Stuart Anderson MP, who has campaigned for a new school in the city, said the announcement was "fantastic news".
"In addition to delivering a new school, the Government’s plan will see a well-established school redeveloped, enabling it to further enhance its facilities and build back greener," he added.
"As a parent and as an MP, I am determined to continue to see our communities levelled up so that we can unleash our young people’s potential."
More details of the rebuilding schemes are set to be announced later this year.
The Department for Education said projects can range from replacing or refurbishing individual buildings through to whole school rebuilds.
A consultation is planned to gather views on how schools are prioritised for future rounds of the long-term programme.
The £1bn investment is the first round of the school rebuilding programme and comes on top of a Government pledge of £1.8bn for school repair and upgrade projects over this coming year.
