Stourbridge free school bid rejected by officials

Plans for a £3 million free school in Stourbridge have been rejected by government officials with applicants told to go back to the drawing board.

Places for more than 450 pupils and at least 30 teaching jobs would have been created by the scheme.

But the Future Education Trust, which was behind the project, says plans have now been delayed following the Government's decision.

Trust director Mustafa Erol today said its plans to rent and convert commercial premises in Lye costing more than £3 million had scuppered the proposal.

He added the Government wants the trust to look at cheaper options so more could be spent on the education of pupils. "I am very disappointed but we will go back to the drawing board and submit an application for next year," he said