School Cuts Are 'Devastating Blow'

Council reaction after plug is pulled on BSF projects

Councillor Julian Bell, Leader of Ealing Council, said: “This
decision is a devastating blow to our plans to transform high schools across the borough and give our young people the education they deserve.

“BSF funding has been stopped at 15 schools and plans for a new high school have been put in jeopardy.

“Plans to improve Dormers Wells, Cardinal Wiseman and West London Academy are being reviewed despite work at one school due to start in a matter of weeks. We urgently need confirmation that funding will be provided from the government so work can start.

“We have a growing population and are in desperate need of more school places, particularly for children with special educational needs.

“Through the BSF programme we expected to have built classrooms for more than 3,000 extra high school pupils by 2014. We know we need at least one more high school in the north of the borough and significant investment in our existing schools. What is not clear is how this will
be funded.

“Without this vital investment we could see a generation condemned to being educated in ill-equipped and overcrowded temporary classrooms. Already we have sixth form pupils sitting in temporary classrooms expecting new classrooms to be built under BSF that now won’t go
ahead.”

7 July 2010