Last updated at 23:15, Thursday, 08 July 2010

COCKERMOUTH School headteacher Geoff Walker has described the Government’s move to scrap a £61.5 million investment programme in West Cumbria secondary schools as a massive blow.

‘MASSIVE BLOW’: Cockermouth School head Geoff Walker

Funding was due for a new school in Workington, extensive redevelopment at Maryport’s Netherhall School, rebuilding at Mayfield special school in Whitehaven and the West Cumbria Learning Centre in Distington.

The rest of the area’s secondary schools, including Cockermouth and Keswick, would have been included in a second phase of the programme.

But Schools Secretary Michael Gove this week announced that the scheme would be axed amid Government cuts.

Mr Walker said: “It is extremely disappointing for all of the schools in West Cumbria who were part of this programme.

“It will be a massive blow for those schools which were in phase one and would have received an awful lot of money.”

He added that refurbishment of some buildings at Cockermouth School would have to be put on hold until further grants could be accessed.

Mr Walker said: “We weren’t in line for a significant amount of money like schools in phase one who would have been able to make a real investment and rebuild parts of their schools, but the money we could have got would have helped us with a few minor projects.

“An awful lot of time and emotion was spent thinking about improvements the schools could have made. It will be a big shock for them.

“We are looking forward to seeing whether any funding will come from the Government’s review on schools’ capital spending at the end of the year, where we expect them to make an announcement about any grants available.

“If available, this funding would help us to carry out those minor projects.”

Cumbria was accepted into the BFS just before the General Election.

Workington MP Tony Cunningham, who lobbied for the funding, said: “I’m disgusted, when you consider all the hard work that went into getting the bid, getting it right and getting the funding in place.

“What they don’t seem to realise is that children only get one chance. It’s all so very shortsighted.”

Mr Cunningham this week asked Mr Gove to pledge support for West Cumbria.

He said: “The Prime Minister and Mr Gove have both said they are going to do all they can to help West Cumbria, but they’re not.”

Cumbria County Council leader Eddie Martin said he would continue to press the case for investment in Cumbria’s education system.

He said: “We feel we have a compelling case for change but we also need to be realistic in the current economic climate. We’ll continue to work with our schools to make sure we deliver the best possible education with the resources we’ve got.”

Mr Gove insisted the cancellations were “unavoidable” because of the financial mess left by Labour.

First published at 19:20, Thursday, 08 July 2010
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk