Government officials have declined requests for a meeting with Northumberland County Council's education leaders regarding funding for a new high school, sparking fury among local authorities. The council has been lobbying for a contribution toward the construction of the new Berwick Academy, but the Government has yet to confirm whether it will provide the cash.
Frustration Over Lack of Meeting
Conservative cabinet member for education, Coun Guy Renner-Thompson, branded the move 'frustrating' and warned it could significantly impact plans for the new school. The local authority has committed to funding the vast majority of the £50 million scheme but has requested that the Government cover £13 million. This amount is equivalent to the current school's maintenance backlog, for which the Department for Education (DfE) is responsible.
The council is particularly angered that plans to rebuild Churchill Community College in neighbouring North Tyneside were placed on a 'priority list' for a Government-funded rebuild, while Berwick's request remains unaddressed.
Inconsistent Approach
Coun Renner-Thompson said: 'We're very disappointed that the DfE have refused to have this meeting with us. There isn't a consistent approach. They have fast-tracked this school in North Tyneside but won't discuss any funding opportunities outside the very rigid School Rebuilding Programme with us. We know they have the power to do so because they did that with Hexham's Queen Elizabeth High School.'
'We can't understand why they're being so rigid. Berwick desperately needs a new high school, and it is a great deal for the Department for Education because we're proposing to come up with most of the money. It's a good deal for everybody involved, particularly the children. This puts elements of the project at risk if we don't get the funding. We're just really frustrated with the whole process.'
Project Details and Challenges
The total cost of the project, including upgrades and alterations at existing first schools to move to a two-tier system, comes to £64 million. Of this, £50.91 million will go toward the new buildings for the high school. Berwick Academy has suffered from a number of issues in recent years, including successive poor Ofsted results. While the school remains rated as 'requires improvement,' the funding announcement comes after a new report by the education watchdog highlighted significant progress being made at the school.
North Northumberland's Labour MP David Smith has previously urged the Tory-led council to share the specifics of the funding shortfall and formally apply to the DfE's various funding streams. The DfE has been contacted for comment.
