Sandwell school expansions face delays after funding cut
Major secondary school expansions in Sandwell have been dealt a blow after crucial government funding was cut.
A Sandwell Council report said the completion of Q3 Langley and West Bromwich Collegiate Academy could be delayed by a further three years.
Meanwhile the report to the council’s education scrutiny panel says the expansion of four other secondary schools may also be delayed by four years.
But Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children’s services at Sandwell Council today said parents should not panic about school places for their children vowing that the projects would be finished.
The report adds: “The implications for the Council are that unless funding is identified it will be at significant risk of failing in its statutory duty of ensuring a sufficient supply of school places.”
But Mr Hackett said: “We want to reassure parents that funds are in place to ensure West Bromwich Collegiate Academy will be built over the next year and open to pupils in September 2019.
"We also have the funds in place to finish the work that has started on-site at Q3 Academy Langley.
“We are in consultation with the government about how funding for school places is allocated to councils.
"We have been selected by the DfE to receive additional grant funding of around £2.5m to support the delivery of West Bromwich Collegiate Academy.”
Previously, the council had been allocated between £9 million and £13m in basic need funding – but is now facing getting nothing at all for 2020/21 or 2021/22.
Chris Ward, director for education, skills and employment, said the greatest pressure on school places was in Smethwick and West Bromwich, adding: “Rowley Regis is not so stressed while Tipton and Wednesbury are just getting by.”
He also explained the council was targeting extra places in schools rated good or excellent by Ofsted because they are the most popular.
Speaking after the meeting, he added: “The children are already in the system, so now we have to look at all solutions that are possible so that we can deliver the places for children while we give parents a preference when they are looking for a space.”
The council is one of seven local authorities nationally to have funding cut.
