A delegation from Sandwell travelled to London on August 5 to ask the government to reinstate Wave 5 of the multi-million scheme.

Councillors, MPs, council officers, members of the shadow youth cabinet and parent governor Richard Marshall from Perryfields High School met with Education Minister Michael Gove and his officials.

Although Mr Gove did not reverse his decision on cutting Sandwell’s BSF programme, he said the borough would be a priority if money was made available in the future for new schools.

The council hopes this means the cuts to BSF will not signal the end of investment in school buildings.

Later that day, Sandwell continued to make the case to the government on BSF with a meeting to talk about the costs of new schools and how any money available in the future could be best used.

Sandwell Council hopes to hear more about future government investment in schools in the autumn.

In the meantime, work continues on Sandwell’s Wave 3 programme (Smethwick and Rowley Learning Campuses) as normal.

Both schemes are making excellent progress, with Phase 1 of the Smethwick campus set to open in October 2010 and Rowley in February 2011.

The council is currently developing plans for a further three schools - Oldbury Campus, Tipton Campus and Wednesbury Campus.

Letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP asking for review on BSF decision.

Sandwell Council leader Cllr Darren Cooper and chief executive Allison Fraser have written to Mr Gove asking for a review on the decision to scrap BSF funding for Sandwell.