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Council takes legal action over school rebuilding rebuild axed
Anna Davis, Education Correspondent5 Oct 2010
A London council has launched legal proceedings against the government's "short-sighted" and "bewildering" decision to scrap its school rebuilding programme.
Waltham Forest Council said the decision to pull funding for the Building Schools for the Future programme is forcing thousands of young people who to learn in outdated classrooms.
In one case pupils at Leytonstone School had to move back into their old rundown classrooms when they had already packed their belongings ready to move into temporary classrooms while work was carried out.
Education Secretary Michael Gove announced in July he was scrapping the £55 billion programme, and 700 schools had to cancel projects.
But Waltham Forest council and two other English councils announced today they are seeking a judicial review. Under the scheme five schools in Labour-led Waltham Forest have already been rebuilt or renovated. But a further 19 were set to benefit in the next two years after an additional £275 million was offered in April.
Council leader Chris Robbins said: "The Government's decision to cancel the BSF projects in Waltham Forest is having a catastrophic effect on our pupils and staff and we've been doing everything we can to persuade them to change their minds.
"It's with a heavy heart that we've been forced to apply for a judicial review in order to do what is best for our pupils and our schools."
A Department for Education spokesman said: "We understand people's disappointment but the BSF programme was wasteful, needlessly bureaucratic and seriously behind schedule."
He added that the Government is reviewing all capital spending on schools to ensure that money goes to those schools in most disrepair.
Reader views (1)
I have never heard of a revolution because the people were disappointed!
- JP Chenet, Surrey, 05/10/2010 12:14
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