Schools' builds U-turn

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Schools' builds U-turn

Friday, 13 August 2010

Lilian Baylis School is one of three in Lambeth where rebuilding work will take place

Nadia Gilani

THREE school rebuilds will go ahead after the Government made a U-turn on its decision to axe funding for the work.
They were among 11 projects to refurbish and rebuild secondary schools in Lambeth that were dropped or put under review on July 5.
But now Dunraven School in Leigham Court Road, Streatham; Lilian Baylis School in Kennington Lane, Oval; and Norwood School in Crown Dale, Norwood, will get the cash.
Education Secretary Michael Gove delivered the news on Friday 'but eight other school improvement projects in the borough will not go ahead.
Mr Gove said the decision applied to 33 schools in the country which were closest to having their improvement work begin.
He said: Planning for these projects is well advanced and we are keen they should proceed without further delay.
I know how hard councils and schools have worked on these projects.
I have been anxious to ensure we can do everything we can to support the crucial work of raising educational standards.
Revamps planned for Archbishop Tenison's in Oval, Bishop Thomas Grant in Streatham, Charles Edward Brooke in Stockwell, La Retraite in Clapham Park and Lansdowne in Stockwell, London Nautical School in Waterloo, St Martin in the Fields in Tulse Hill, Turney School in West Dulwich still have no Government funding.
The future of a controversial £45million project to flatten Fenstanton Primary School in Abbots Park, Tulse Hill, and build two new schools on the site also remains on hold.
Councillor Pete Robbins, Lambeth's Labour cabinet member for children and young people said:
This is obviously good news for the three schools.
We remain hopeful that funding for Fenstanton can also be found.
We will continue to lobby the Government for more funds to ensure all our schools are modern and well equipped so that we can provide the best futures possible for Lambeth's young people.
Email: nadia.gilani@slp.co.uk

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