News writing sample two

A sample article from the Harrow Times by Jack Royston

What is the story?

BRENT pupils found out £80m of funding for their schools was axed the day they gave a presentation on how it should be spent.

Teenagers from four schools in the borough, including Copland Community School, in Wembley, pitched ideas to council bosses at Wembley Plaza Hotel, in Empire Way, on Monday.

But as they did so, education secretary Michael Gove announced in the House of Commons that money allocated for the rebuilding projects had been scrapped.

Quotes

Brent Council leader Ann John, who was at the event, said: “They were sitting there, they knew that it was a pretty awful decision that was made by the Government – they could tell by the reaction of their teachers.”

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The four projects, funded through a scheme called Building Schools for the Future (BSF), were intended to increase the number of places in the borough by 2,068.

Brent's population is growing rapidly, putting pressure on class sizes, and the Government's decision has sparked fears of a crisis if money is not found to push ahead with the plans.

The council has already spent close to £600,000 on the projects and is now back to square one, battling to attract Government funding through a spending review for the years 2011-12 and 2014-15.

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Cllr John said: “If we don't manage to expand schools and manage to rebuild some schools then crisis is not too strong a word to use.

“We are very short of places and we have a statutory duty to provide those school places.”

Councillor Mary Arnold, responsible for children and families, said the decision could mean children are taught in corridors.

Barry Gardiner, MP for Brent North, described the situation as “absolutely desperate”.

His questioning of Mr Gove in the House of Commons following the announcement was so fierce the speaker said it offended his sensibilities.

Mr Gove told the commons: “Even before we formed this coalition Government and had the opportunity to look properly at the scandalous mess we inherited, we knew Labour ministers had no proper respect for public money.

“The whole process by which the then Government procured new school buildings was a case in point.

“The Building Schools for the Future scheme has been responsible for about one third of all this department's capital spending, but throughout its life it has been characterised by massive overspends, tragic delays, botched construction projects and needless bureaucracy.”

The other three schools affected are Alperton Community School, Queens Park Community School and Cardinal Hinsley Mathematics and Technology College.