Scandal school to be rebuilt

Dec 2 2009 By Tara Brady, Harrow Observer

A WEMBLEY school caught up in financial scandal will be finally modernised thanks to £80million in funding from the government.

Four schools, including Copland Community School, in Cecil Avenue, Wembley, will be rebuilt or expanded as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

The headteacher of Copland, Sir Alan Davies, resigned earlier this year after details of his pay emerged showing he had taken home thousands of pounds in bonuses. The deputy headteacher, Dr Richard Evans, was sacked last month.

Planning applications had been submitted to the council over the years to rebuild the school but this never happened.

Other schools to benefit from the scheme are Alperton Community School, Cardinal Hinsley Mathematics and Computing College, in Harlesden, and Queen's Park Community School.

Councillor Mary Arnold, Labour's education spokeswoman in Brent, said: "Once again our Labour government has put its money where its mouth is and invested in education.

"Before Labour came to power, Brent school students were taught in overcrowded classrooms, sometimes with leaking roofs and in some cases in corridors.

"That situation has massively improved under Labour and this new money gives us the chance to ensure that every Brent child receives a first class education in modern schools with state of the art facilities."

On top of this the government announced on Monday that it will give nearly £15million to fund more primary school places to help with the increased demand in Brent schools.

An increase in the birth rate and local shifts in population have created surges in demand for primary schools, especially in Brent.

Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent South, said: "Nearly 500 Brent children were left without school places last September. My government is working hard to ensure that the council does not

let this happen again. This week the Labour government has given nearly £100,000 to Brent to ensure that every Brent child receives a top-class education in top class facilities."

Councillor Bob Wharton (Liberal Democrat), responsible for children and families in Brent, was also delighted with the news. He said: "Building Schools for the Future is not just about buildings. It is about transforming the quality of education for young people.

"Some secondary schools will get building improvements but all will share in improvements to information technology systems."