Education chiefs: 'Walsall schools will be envy of the UK'

Education chiefs today pledged to make Walsall schools the envy of the UK – despite missing out on millions of pounds of funding to repair crumbling buildings.

Five schools in the borough had applied to be included in the Government's £1.1 billion Priority Schools Building Programme. The local authority had asked for a £60.2 million share on behalf of the schools.

Some of them missed out on funding as part of the failed Building Schools for the Future programme.

But it has now emerged that no Walsall schools have been allocated any of the cash pot.

An official letter sent to children's services from the Department of Education said money was allocated to applications which "focussed entirely on the condition of buildings...not solely on basic need."

Applications were made on behalf of Joseph Leckie Academy, in Delves; Pool Hayes Arts and Community School in Willenhall; Rushall JMI School; The Mirus Academy in Bloxwich and Willenhall E-ACT Academy.

Pauline Pilkington, executive director for children's services at Walsall Council, said the application was entirely in line with the department's criteria.

"We are all extremely disappointed as the money would have funded a range of vital projects, as our priority schools require significant improvement," she said.

"Our capital grant allocations have already been reduced, affecting our ability to ensure we provide all our pupils with the best possible learning environments."

Education chief Councillor Rachel Andrew added her frustration and said the money would have been "a terrific boost" for developing school buildings.

"It is very disappointing and frustrating our bid to the Priority School Building Programme should have been unsuccessful," she said.

"But we remain confident, both in the short and long term, we can satisfy our ambition for making all Walsall school buildings the envy of the UK."

Earlier this year, it emerged more than £7 million is to be ploughed into refurbishing and renovating schools across Walsall in the next 12 months.

The annual pot is lower than last year but council chiefs insist this is due to more schools going independent and becoming academies.

Two schools in Wolverhampton and three schools in Sandwell have been named among the 261 most dilapidated in the country and have been given funding from the Priority Schools Building Programme.