Government rejects bid for millions needed to rebuild rundown Stockton Schools

A bid for millions of pounds to rebuild eight ageing Stockton schools has been rejected by the Government.

But in Redcar and Cleveland, the Eston Centre EOTAS (Education Other Than At School) and Pathways Special School, Grangetown, have been successful in getting a share of £2bn.

Stockton Council had applied for cash from the second phase of the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP2). The authority wanted to invest in new buildings for Egglescliffe School, Bishopsgarth School, Billingham South Community Primary School, Pentland Primary School, Oxbridge Lane Primary School, Tilery Primary School, Roseberry Primary School and Harrow Gate Primary School.

Of the eight schools, the council says, the Egglescliffe School buildings are the most in need of investment.

But when the Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan MP, and the Minister of State for Schools, David Laws MP, today announced that 277 schools had been successful in their applications, including the two in Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton had missed out.

Ian Swales, Lib Dem MP for Redcar, tweeted: “The news is now out about rebuilds of Pathways Grangetown and Eston PRU. Lid Dems helping everyone to get on in life #OnTrack.”

But Stockton was told by the Education Funding Agency: “We regret to inform you that, following the careful consideration of applications, the list of successful projects does not include (the eight Stockton schools).”

Council leader, Councillor Bob Cook, said: “We believe our children and young people are entitled to the very best educational facilities so we are extremely disappointed that the Government has rejected our bid to rebuild eight schools under the Priority School Building Programme.

“It is sad but unsurprising that southern areas like Kent, Hertfordshire and Surrey have had long lists of projects accepted while many of our schools will be left to soldier on in buildings that are in need of significant maintenance. We will of course, continue to make best use of the funding we have for the upkeep of our schools.

“Meanwhile, the Government continues to fritter away millions on failing and half full Free Schools while successful, well-run local authority maintained schools are crumbling.”

Ian Ramsey C of E School in Stockton was successful in winning cash in the first round of PSBP.

Stockton Council also heard that its school maintenance budget for the next three years would be £1.65m for maintained schools plus £600k for Voluntary Aided schools.

Stockton South Conservative MP James Wharton wants to see some of the cash spent on expanding Egglescliffe School to tackle over-subscription. On Friday, Mr Wharton spoke with Education Minister David Laws about the proposal and he confirmed the maintenance funding could be used to fund this kind of small expansion.

Mr Wharton: “A small fraction of this money could allow Egglescliffe to take a few more pupils, meaning the oversubscription issue would be solved.”

But Egglescliffe’s head teacher Simon White said any expansion plans would not be considered until after the ongoing public consultation into proposed changes to local school admission zones.

“I’m keen to work with the council and parents so a resolution can be found,” he said. “The whole point of the consultation is to listen to the views of mums and dads, then if there is a decision to expand that would be prudent. But that has got to come at the end of the consultation.”