Susanna Wilkey THE government has today announced it will fund the new UCL Academy in Swiss Cottage. Michael Gove has confirmed that 33 sample projects for the Building School for the Futures programme and 119 academies have been given the green light, i

Susanna Wilkey

THE government has today announced it will fund the new UCL Academy in Swiss Cottage.

Michael Gove has confirmed that 33 sample projects for the Building School for the Futures programme and 119 academies have been given the green light, including the academy on Avenue Road and the refurbishment of South Camden Community School.

The education secretary said: "I'm delighted that the sample schools and academy projects are going ahead, and I hope that local authorities and schools will welcome this news. This is good news for those schools.

"I know how hard councils and schools have worked on these projects and I have been anxious to ensure we can do everything we can, in difficult economic times, to support the crucial work of raising educational standards.

"Planning for these projects is well advanced and we are keen they should proceed without further delay.

"I'm determined that we press ahead with the academies programme and want all those schools identified as future academies to enjoy the freedoms and benefits academy status brings.

"We will also work with councils, sponsors and the construction industry to ensure we bear down on costs and bureaucracy so every new school is built in as cost-effective and efficient a way as possible, and I am delighted that they have already responded so positively to this challenge."

The rest of Camden's Building Schools for the Future projects at the borough's other secondary schools were cancelled by the new coalition government along with schemes throughout the country.

For reaction to the decision see next week's Ham&High.