Funding blow for town's schools

Darlington's Local Education Authority (LEA) had hoped to get millions of pounds of Government money in the next two years through the Building Schools for the Future programme.

The funding would have helped transform secondary schools across the town - but yesterday it emerged, it could be 2011 before Darlington is given the grant.

The news came as a huge disappointment to schools across the town - but it was an even bigger blow for 80-year-old Eastbourne School, which in July lost out on a £20m finance programme to build a new school by 2007.

Headteacher Karen Pemberton said: "This is a tremendous blow, not just to me, but to all the headteachers in Darlington.

"We will be looking for any way we can refit and refurbish out schools in the meantime.

"The next move will be down to the LEA as we can't do a lot as secondary school heads."

She added that building problems at the school had been relieved since the school joined with Hurworth School Maths and Computing College in a federation.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) had promised the town one new secondary school by 2011.

Pat Howarth, headteacher of 50-year-old Hummersknott School and Language College, said: "This is a huge disappointment. There is a £3m backlog of repairs in this school, I need a new heating system.

"We have a dining room which was designed for 600 people, which serves 1,200 people. We do not have a building which meets the needs of children in 2004.

"I support the Government but the damage has already been done and we are trying to catch up."

LEAs across the region will be getting multi-million cash boosts starting from 2005.

Newcastle, Sunderland and Gateshead and South Tyneside LEAs were in a group of 14 to first get money and they will receive it next year.

Yesterday Middlesbrough found out it would get funding in 2006, with County Durham following in 2007.