by Hayley Robinson

Schools which have been told that their rebuilding plans have been scrapped could still be in line for help under a new government scheme.

Kent County Council (KCC) lost its High Court battle to stop the government axing its Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project, but last week education secretary Michael Gove revealed plans for a new Private Finance Initiative which will see between 100 and 300 of the country's most dilapidated schools rebuilt.

Forty schools across Kent were set to benefit from the original programme which was launched by the previous government in 2003. Those affected in Sittingbourne are Borden Grammar School, the Westlands, Sittingbourne Community College, Fulston Manor and the Challenger Centre Pupil Referral Unit.

The aim of the £55bn scheme was to rebuild or renew every secondary school in England, with Kent expected to benefit from £1.8bn of investment. KCC joined forces with Newham Council, Luton Borough Council, Nottingham City Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and Waltham Forest Borough Council in the legal challenge.

KCC argued the government decision was "irrational", saying it had spent £6.7m on consultants and advisers to help develop projects later cancelled.

The education secretary has said he will cover the costs incurred by the authorities after the contracts were terminated.

KCC leader, Cllr Paul Carter (pictured), said: "I appreciate the local authorities will be disappointed. But this decision does not mean no new school buildings in their areas.

"They will all be eligible for support from the new programmes I am establishing to cater for population growth in the areas most in need and the worst dilapidation.

"Our position has always been that those schools who have been disappointed should be top of the list in the new programme. On the basis that the government is saying money should go to the most dilapidated schools in areas of high deprivation, we have a good case."

Head of Sittingbourne Community College, Alan Barham, said: "The decision was as expected. We had given up hope of getting BSF funding.

"We are now working to secure funding for buildings refurbishment and upgrade when we become an academy in January."