A NORTH Warwickshire school has been allocated government funding to completely rebuild the site.
Warwickshire County Council has welcomed the news from the Department for Education that Queen Elizabeth School and Sports College in Atherstone has been selected to receive funding through the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP).
A total of 587 schools from around the country applied for the scheme, and Queen Elizabeth is one of 261 to have been chosen.
Tony Wilmot, headteacher at the school, is thrilled with the news.
“This is certainly the best thing that has happened for children in Atherstone for many, many years,” he said.
“When we received the letter from the Department for Education it sent a high level of excitement running through the school.
“The school is on a split site and is very run down so we are looking to rebuild the school - and that seems to be the case as we have been allocated PFI (Private Finance Initiative) money which is used for a rebuild.
“We will have more news in the coming weeks about the scheme.
“But this is certainly very good news for the school and also for Atherstone as well.”
It is not known how much money that the school has been given.
But the school and its governors will work in partnership with the Department for Education, submitting plans for approval before funds are signed off and work can begin.
Councillor Heather Timms, portfolio holder for children, young people and families, added: “The county council made a very determined bid to secure the funds for the school and we are so pleased that it has the opportunity to create a modern school fit for purpose in the 21st century.”
Queen Elizabeth School was one of two schools in Warwickshire that applied for the funding, the other being Hartshill School - but it was unsuccessful with its bid.
Now proposals for Queen Elizabeth are being forged ahead with.
It is hoped that within the next two weeks things will moved forward with the plan at the Witherley Road-based school.
Mr Wilmot added: “In the letter from the Department for Education it said that we would hear more within the next two weeks so things are moving forward very quickly which is great news.
“We are very grateful for all the help and support from Warwickshire County Council, and a special mention should go to John Harman and Mark Gore for their work.”
Local ward councillor, Carol Fox, said: “This is so well-deserved for the children of Atherstone.
“The council has worked hard on the bid and I can’t wait to see the result; a school that will give local children the best possible start in life.”
A spokesperson for the PSBP said: “Officials have written to all schools who applied for the programme to confirm whether their application has been successful.
“Work will begin immediately and the first schools will be open in 2014.”
