First image of new Tipton school plan

This is the first image of the new Alexandra High School in Tipton as it will look when it has undergone its £17million transformation.

The school is one of three in the borough to be rebuilt or revamped this year under the Government's axed Building Schools for the Future Scheme.

Nine school rebuilding projects worth £138million were scrapped in July by Education Secretary Michael Gove.

But the contracts had already been signed for the work on Alexandra High, in Alexandra Road, and the planning application has just been submitted to Sandwell Council. If approved, it is hoped the work will start before Christmas.

Wodensborough Technology College in Hydes Road, Wednesbury and Oldbury College of Sport in Moat Road, Oldbury are also in line to be rebuilt and it is hoped that planning applications for those projects will also be submitted within weeks.

The project is being overseen by Sandwell Futures, a partnership group running all the BSF projects in the borough.

Chief executive Peter Vella said: "We want work on all three schools to be under way before Christmas.

"There are five BSF schools in Sandwell, the first two at Rowley and Smethwick are already being built, the planning application is now in for Tipton and we hope the remaining two will follow soon."

The revamped school will be called the Tipton Learning Campus and the plans will see it given a new main entrance, a new social space.

A single storey mobile classroom in the middle of the school will be demolished and replaced with a new building.

There will also be a business centre for students and the community, which will include ICT equipment and space for vocational courses and specialist support for young mothers.

The teaching block, the main hall and dining room are all being retained, while the craft block would be demolished.