A NEW academy in Colchester will have to wait until October before finding out whether it will receive Government cash for a new building.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said the Sir Charles Lucas Arts College, in Hawthorn Avenue, will be one of 119 new academies across the country.

Cash for building schemes will be handed to 44 of the academies, but Sir Charles Lucas – which will become the Colchester Academy from September 1 – will not receive funds until after the Government’s spending review on October 20.

The Government announced in July it would be scrapping the previous Labour administration’s Building Schools for the Future programme, including £130million worth of investment in Colchester schools, as part of its cost-cutting.

The Department for Education plans to work with the sponsors of the academies to reduce costs over the next few months.

Colchester councillor Julie Young, a governor at St Andrew’s Infants School, one of the college’s feeder primary schools, criticised the Government for not immediately funding the scheme.

She said: “It is a big blow for Colchester that we will not get that funding now. The Government will not promise any funding towards setting up an academy in Greenstead, which is another setback for schools funding in the town.

“It is very worrying it is looking at reducing costs, as this academy would be serving a very needy population.

“We need an enhanced education opportunity for our children and the academy desperately needs that funding.”

Mrs Young said she would be putting pressure on the Essex county councillor for education to lobby Mr Gove to provide the funds.

Mr Gove said: “I know how hard councils and schools have worked on these projects. 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.

“I’m determined 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.”

Danny Clough, principal and chief executive of Colchester Institute, the main sponsor of the academy, said: “New buildings for the academy were scheduled for something like three or four years time, so we still hope a satisfactory conclusion can be reached.”