Schools will be bulldozed

Council officials today disclosed further details of a planned £209 million overhaul of education in Telford which will see seven schools bulldozed and completely rebuilt.

Telford & Wrekin Council has now named the identities of two primary schools to be rebuilt under the transformation, namely Stirchley and Three Oaks.

It was revealed yesterday that Woodlands Primary is to be rebuilt, along with four secondary schools.

A further 10 secondaries will be remodelled or refurbished, namely Ercall Wood Technology College, the Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College, Charlton School, the Phoenix School, Newport Girls High School, Burton Borough School, Adams Grammar School, Southall School, Mount Gilbert School and Thomas Telford School.

A total of £177.3 million of the funding will come from national schemes and the four new secondary schools will provide 4,000 places for pupils.

The plan will see the creation of the Abraham Darby School for Performing Arts with the site incorporating a completely new school for 900 pupils, plus 200 post-16 places, Woodlands Primary School will be moved onto the site and Madeley Swimming Pool will also be relocated there.

There will also be a multi-purpose community hall and fitness centre and the new school will be the first to fully open, in 2012.

The Lord Silkin School will be a trust school, in partnership with Telford College of Arts and Technology, with 850 places, including 100 post-16 places.

Its "Learning Community campus" will include Stirchley and Three Oaks Primary Schools and an extensive range of sports and community rooms.

Sutherland Business and Enterprise College, another trust school, sponsored by the Co-operative Society, will provide 600 places for 11 to 16-year-olds. It will be rebuilt on the site of Oakengates Leisure Centre, with improved sports and leisure facilities.

Wrockwardine Wood Arts College is set to become another trust school, in partnership with Wolverhampton University, catering for 1,200 pupils, including 50 post-16 places and it will be rebuilt on a new site in Priorslee.

By Simon Hardy