Councillor 'frustrated' with Government over funding for new Berwick high school

The council has been lobbying for a contribution to the construction of the new Berwick Academy, but the Government is yet to confirm whether it will stump up the cash.

Conservative cabinet member for education Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson has branded the move ‘frustrating’ and warned it could have a significant impact on the plans for the new school.

The local authority has committed to funding the vast majority of the £51m scheme, but has requested that the Government cover £13m.

This is equivalent to the current school’s maintenance backlog, which the Department for Education is responsible for.

The council is particularly angry that plans to rebuild Churchill Community College in neighbouring North Tyneside was placed on a “priority list” for a Government-funded rebuild.

Cllr 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.”

The total cost of the project, including upgrades and alterations at existing first schools to move to a two-tier system, comes to £64m. Of this, £50.91m will go towards the new buildings for the high school.

While the school remains rated as “requires improvement”, the funding announcement comes after a new report by the education watchdog highlighted the 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.