Date set for battle over building Sandwell schools

?A court battle bid to overturn the Government's decision to axe Sandwell's secondary school modernisation programme is set to get under way by the end of the month in a five-day hearing involving nine schools in the borough.

Sandwell Council is one of six authorities seeking a judicial review to challenge the decision at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

If they are successful, a review will follow in the hope that the Government's decision to slash funding for building could be overturned.

The coalition Government sparked fury in July when it announced all of Sandwell's Building Schools for the Future projects could go ahead, before revealing nine schemes had actually been axed.

The authority lost a total of £138 million in funding.

Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper has held face-to-face meetings with Education Secretary Michael Gove in which has has asked him to reconsider.

He said the council had been left with "no choice" but to pursue the matter through the courts claiming: "If we can get it changed it will be money well spent."

The schools which have lost funding include Bristnall Hall, Heathfield, Manor and Menzies, The Meadows, Perryfields, Stuart Bathurst, Tividale and Wood Green.

Two schools are already under construction in Sandwell under the building Schools for the Future scheme — Smethwick and Rowley learning campuses.

The council has plans for a further three schools — Oldbury Campus, Tipton Campus and Wednesbury Campus, which were signed off just before Christmas

Sandwell Council will be joined by Luton, Nottingham, Newham, Waltham Forest and Kent County Council in seeking the judicial review.