THE building of three new secondary schools in Salford has hit a funding crisis before a brick has been laid.
Two years ago the city successfully bid for '48 million of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) cash to replace Hope and Buile Hill high schools in Pendleton and Harrop Fold in Little Hulton.
But after inviting three companies to submit tenders for the work, education bosses in the city believe '48 million will not be enough to build the schools and about '66 million is needed.
The council will have to ask for more cash and education chiefs are furious at the prices being quoted by some of the private firms bidding for the contract.
Crucial
Under PFI, private companies will build the schools and the local education authority will pay a mortgage for 25 years, at the end of which the buildings will be owned by the authority. The Manchester Evening News understands if the council is unable to secure extra funding, one of the schools will not be built.
But one source said: "Whatever happens Harrop Fold will get a new school."
One option is for a super school for 1,800 pupils to be built, to accommodate students from Hope and Buile Hill schools, which are both on Eccles Old Road and just 500 yards apart.
Crucial talks between the local education authority and the Department for Education and Skills are due to take place later this month about the issue.
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"SCHOOL PLANS UNDER THREAT"
The story, as written in the Manchester Evening News, Thursday, 12 May 2005 is scandalous. The local community has been let down yet again. Just to ensure everyone knows what is happening, here is a short extract from the story:
"But after inviting three companies to submit tenders for the work, education bosses in the city believe B#48 million will not be enough to build the schools and about B#66 million is needed.
The council will have to ask for more cash and education chiefs are furious at the prices being quoted by some of the private firms bidding for the contract".
Salford Council should hang it's head in shame. It is absolutely scandalous that the Local Education Authority are now saying they do not have the money to build three new schools which have been promised for the last five years. Do they ever stop to think how this appalling situation is affecting past and present staff and pupils of these schools? It does not matter what efforts are made locally, Salford Council always manage to throw a spanner in the works. They may be furious at the prices being quoted by the bidding contractors, but now might be able to relate to the exasperation felt within the local community who have been let down year on year.
Salford created this situation by bulldozing locals into believing everyone would be better served by agreeing to closures and amalgamations as a result of the 1999 High School Review. It is in Salford Council Records that Harrop Fold Pupils were expected to be accommodated on one site (Hilton Lane) by 2005 b " To date, not one brick has been laid, and now they have the audacity to say that the new schools are now in jeopardy. I was under the impression that if all three schools cannot be built then under the agreement, none would be built b " correct me if I am wrong.
The Local Education Authority are quick to say that all schools are autonomous and self governing when they have been identified as requiring special measures. I am sure the current problems being experienced can be traced back to past decisions of the LEA together with the inappropriate meddling of Salford Council. Perhaps it is they that should be put into special measures for the shocking way the have handled the education system.