A real slap in the face for the people of Margate.

That's how Tony Davies, vice principal of Hartsdown Technology College, described a snub by the government in the latest round of school building funding.

He was speaking after the Margate college was missed off the government's £2 billion Priority School Building Programme - despite being listed as number one priority for the county.

More than a dozen other schools in Kent were awarded cash ahead of the school.

Mr Davies said today: "It's very disappointing but not really a surprise, we expected this and we've set in place some plans so that we're ready to cope with the future.

"The school's been doing very well over the last five or six years and we want to maintain that momentum so we've set aside £250,000 to do developmental work, not just patching roofs but making sure the environment matches the needs of the students.

"We want our learning spaces to be as flexible as possible so the students can use them in different ways, we also want to make sure the latest technological infrastructure is in place so that means improving wireless technology through out the school.

"I think it's a real slap in the face for the people of Margate, not just our students - but the people of Margate are very resiliant and will show their Dunkirk spirit and carry on achieving as highly as they have done over the last six years.

"One student said recently it's not the classrooms that count it's what goes on inside them that matters."

Staff at Hartsdown Technology College in Margate say it is "desperately in need for extensive refurbishment or a total rebuild".

It had had already faced two previous setbacks - they were due to hear before Christmas and then again in May.

Now 14 other schools in the county have been given the green light for a refit or rebuild, but Hartsdown has been missed off.

The school has been waiting five years since the original Building Schools for the Future programme identified it as a prime candidate.

Hartsdown Technology College students from Margate took their petition over BSF cuts to Parliament

But, while the college held off making major repairs because bosses had been promised a new school, in July 2010 - just days before the new build was to be signed off - the programme was axed.

The government's cash would have meant Hartsdown being merged with The Foreland special school.

Students were so incensed they launched the Margate Matters campaign, collected thousands of signatures for their petition, and took the case to Westminster.

A college spokesman said before the announcement: “Since then we have seen other false dawns as promises of new build and finance have fallen by the wayside or been delayed.

“The Government has carried out five surveys at Hartsdown based on need and we are a high priority.

"It is imperative that we have a new school to continue with our excellent all-round progress, to develop our provision further and to give our students the 21st century school they deserve."

Cllr Mike Whiting, KCC cabinet member for education, said: "Kent submitted 58 applications to the Priority School Buildings Programme of which 14 were successful.

"We are extremely pleased that these schools named in the announcement
today whose buildings desperately needed refurbishment and repairs now
have the funding available to do so.

"The Laleham Gap is one of the schools which really highlights the Secretary of State's recognition that special schools are in need of funding as well as Primary and Secondary schools.

"We are obviously disappointed that the Department has not approved the
other 44 applications.

"For example, Hartsdown Technology College was in the original Building Schools for the Future programme, yet no funding has been granted. We will be contacting the Department to pursue the best outcome for the school."

Schools granted the cash in Kent

Aylesham Primary School
Castle Community College
Chantry Primary School
Culverstone Green Primary School
Halfway Houses Primary School
Laleham Gap School *
Meopham School
Priory Fields School
Sevenoaks Primary School
Smarden Primary School
St Philip Howard Catholic Primary School
The Canterbury Primary School *
Westlands Primary School
York Road Junior Academy

* Indicates that the school will have its condition need met using capital grant.