mjefferies@thekmgroup.co.uk

Thousands of Thanet school pupils will miss out on long-awaited new facilities planned under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

The government announced on Monday (July 5) it is to scrap the scheme - a decision that affects nine schools on the island.

They include Chatham House Grammar School, Clarendon House Grammar School, Foreland School and Hartsdown Technology College, as well as Hereson School, Laleham Gap School, Northwood Centre PRU, Stone Bay School and Ursuline College.

However, the redevelopment of King Ethelbert School, which is already under way, will not be affected.

Education secretary Michael Gove said: “In the light of the public finances, it would have been irresponsible to carry on regardless with an inflexible, and needlessly complex programme.”

Although the news is a blow to many pupils and teachers, Andy Somers, principal of Hartsdown Technology College, Margate, said: “The BSF announcement was not unexpected but it does end months of speculation, rumour and endless waiting.

“While it may be seen as a wasted effort by some, I like to see the BSF experience as a catalyst that will spur us on to bigger and better endeavours for our students and our expanding role within the community.”

The £55 billion BSF programme was the largest ever investment in school buildings. Almost every secondary school in England was due to be rebuilt or renewed over a 20-year period.

Charles Dickens School, Dane Court Grammar School and St George’s School, all in Broadstairs, had already benefited from the scheme.

The huge reduction in the scheme has come under fire from opposition parties and teaching unions.

Christine Blower, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said there was “no excuse for leaving schools which were promised new buildings swinging in the wind”.

“Poor learning environments have a negative impact on the education of children and young people,” she added.