Funding for new Kingston secondary school withdrawn (From Surrey Comet)

Funding for new Kingston secondary school withdrawn

11:50am Tuesday 6th July 2010 in News By Martin George

Funding for a new secondary school in north Kingston was scrapped yesterday, when the Government axed the building schools for the future programme (BSF), but Kingston Council pledged the school would still open in September 2015 as planned.

Kingston Council had been relying on BSF money to finance the proposed eight form of entry school on the North Kingston Centre site, and expand other secondary schools by a further eight forms of entry.

When the threat to BSF funding first emerged in May, the council said it hoped the school would still qualify for money from a separate funding stream, after it established a “basic need” for the school because of the rising birth rate.

Councillor Liz Green, executive member for education, said she was confident the council would still receive government funding for the new school and to expand other secondary schools in the borough as planned.

She said: “Opening in September 2015 is still the plan. We will be continuing to process our end of things and will be looking to secure funding from the Government absolutely as soon as possible. We are confident we will get it.”

Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove yesterday announced 58 BSF projects covering nearly 700 schools would be cancelled with immediate effect.

In a statement, the Government said: “Rebuilding and refurbishing projects in these local authorities may go ahead under future capital investment programmes, shaped by the capital review – but they will no longer be funded under the existing programme.”