MORE than �700m of work to rebuild or revamp every high and special school in Norfolk has been unceremoniously dumped by the coalition government.Education secretary Michael Gove announced to parliament this afternoon the end of the nationwide �55bn Building Schools for the Future programme.
MORE than �700m of work to rebuild or revamp every high and special school in Norfolk has been unceremoniously dumped by the coalition government.
Education secretary Michael Gove announced to parliament this afternoon the end of the nationwide �55bn Building Schools for the Future programme.
He said any project that had reached 'financial close' would be funded. But in Norfolk, no scheme is at that stage.
Last year, the Labour government approved Norfolk County Council's initial project, including:
An all-new academy to replace The Park High at King's Lynn
An academy to replace Costessey High
A complete rebuild of Chapel Road Complex Needs School at Attleborough
A 50-70pc rebuild of Marshland High at West Walton
A 20-50pc rebuild of Great Yarmouth High
A 20pc rebuild of Sewell Park College in Norwich.
The initial project is still two years away from any possible building work, meaning the six schemes are among those shelved today.
Scores of other Norfolk schemes were grouped in follow-up phases with no specific dates. They will also not happen.
Meanwhile, there is a shadow hanging over the new academy buildings at City Academy Norwich, Thetford and Gorleston, after Mr Gove said he would 'look very carefully' at their funding.
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