On Thursday 24th May, the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, announced that Alfreton Grange Arts College would be one of the 261 schools to receive funding for building work under the Priority Schools Building Programme by 2014. It is the only school that will be rebuilt in Derbyshire outside the city of Derby.
This is excellent news for the school and something which I’ve been campaigning for since the previous Building Schools for the Future programme was ended.
Having visited the school on several occasions I know well the desperate condition some of the buildings are in, and so this funding is a real boost for the school, its current and future pupils and staff, and the local community. I’ve been very impressed by the determination of the Head Teacher and the Governors to deliver improvements and I hope this funding for new buildings will give them further impetus.