Good news for Telford schools!

It means that a planned £240m creation of 15 Sports and Learning Communities serving the needs of the residents of Telford and Wrekin will go ahead over the next five years.

Education secretary Michael Gove announced significant cuts to the Building Schools for the Future programme as part of an ongoing package of government austerity measures to beat severe budget deficits.

But Telford and Wrekin's plans remain intact after it was revealed that its wide-ranging schemes to create Sports and Learning Communities to feature sports, health, leisure and community facilities as well as providing top quality education could still go ahead.

Councillor Stephen Burrell, cabinet member for children and young people, hailed the decision as a complete recognition of the council's vision to make the best use of the available funding for all residents of the borough by providing facilities that everyone could use.

"We have always known we have been ahead of the game. Our decision to eliminate the costly private finance initiative programme that was in place has brought the programme forward by a year and got rid of waste and bureaucracy, ensuring speed of delivery and value for money for local residents now and into the future," said Councillor Burrell.

"We recognise and applaud the government's plans to bring public spending back on track and therefore appreciate the need for the cuts that have been made.

"I firmly believe the fact that our plans remain unaffected is a complete endorsement of our vision. We saw it as an opportunity to create something that would change the lives of everyone in the borough.

 "We are delighted with the opportunity this presents for local authority Sports and Learning Communities to change education in the borough for decades to come."

The first school to be rebuilt will be the Abraham Darby Academy, which will be rebuilt as the Abraham Darby Sports and Learning Community. Woodlands Primary School will also be co-located on the same site.

Going forward the Phoenix School will be rebuilt on a different site at Paddock Mount in Dawley and Lord Silkin School in Stirchley will be rebuilt as the Lakeside Sports and Learning Community. Two primary schools will be co-located there.

The Wrockwardine Wood Arts College will be re-located and rebuilt on a new site in Priorslee and the Sutherland Business and Enterprise College in Trench will be rebuilt on a new site at Oakengates Leisure Centre.

All other secondary and special schools in the borough will be remodelled and upgraded.