Multi million pound investment in schools
26 Feb 2019 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
The council has announced massive investment in a new school for Berwick and a multi million pound injection of cash into James Calvert Spence College in Amble.
As part of its ambitious budget proposals the council has allocated at least £15m for the new school for its northernmost town - to replace the ageing Berwick Academy buildings. It has also agreed to a multi-million pound investment in James Calvert Spence College in Amble.
Both proposals are now subject to the development of detailed business cases, which will involve the schools working alongside the council and building professionals to develop the best proposals for each scheme.
The current Berwick Academy buildings date back to the 1950s and have been the subject of concern due to the continuing dilapidation of the site as well as the layout of the buildings, which are spread across a large area.
James Calvert Spence College has been meeting with Cllr Daley and officers for some time to look at how they can develop their school, and how the school might support the council with SEND and other important provision.
Amble has also seen over 2,000 new houses approved in recent years and the town needs a school fit for the 21st century.
The plans are part of Northumberland County Council’s largest ever programme of investment - with £589m proposed over the next three years to boost the county’s economy, improve education prospects for all and create new infrastructure for the future.
Councillor Wayne Daley, deputy leader and cabinet member for children’s services said: “I am delighted that we have been able to announce these plans for a new school in Berwick, and major long overdue investment into Amble’s only high school.
“These ambitious plans are just part of our wider commitment to educational excellence in Northumberland - and come on the back of recent announcements about new schools in Seaton Delaval and in Hexham.”
The news about a new school for Berwick has been warmly welcomed by county councillors for the town - Catherine Seymour, Gregah Roughead and Georgina Hill.
The Berwick Academy is in Cllr Hill’s ward and, speaking on behalf of the Berwick councillors, she said: “This commitment to invest in a new school for Berwick is really good news. There has been a lot of concern in the town about certain aspects of the current education provision, and we are very glad to see that these concerns are being taken seriously and acted upon by the council.”
Cllr Jeff Watson, County Councillor for the Amble West with Warkworth ward, also welcomed the announcement of investment in James Calvert Spence. He said: "I am very pleased that the council has confirmed this multi-million pound investment in Amble's high school.
"Along with Cllr Daley I have been working for some time to secure funding that will ensure that the school has the facilities it needs to be fully fit for purpose, and will give our young people an excellent environment in which to learn.
"I know that the details have to be developed as part of a business case but the news that this investment will happen is fantastic for Amble and surrounding communities."
The council’s budget was agreed at the full council meeting on Wednesday February 20th.