DUDLEY borough MPs have blasted Dudley Council’s education bosses after the council failed to win government funding for its school’s - after they were told their plans would not make the grade.

The council had been invited to make a “fast-track” bid for Building Schools for the Future funding from the government to transform all of its secondary schools - but lost out after its £200 million plans were not judged good enough by the Office of the Schools Commissioner and officials from the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Dudley Council’s lead member for children’s services, Councillor Liz Walker, claimed the decision was a “kick in the teeth” for the borough but angry MPs have hit back saying there were repeated warnings that the plans would not make the grade.

Speaking on behalf of the Borough’s four MPs - Sylvia Heal, Lynda Waltho and Ian Pearson, Dudley North MP Ian Austin said: “Liz Walker’s comments are a disgrace. She has let down the Borough’s schools, parents and pupils.

“The facts are clear - Dudley was invited to bid because the government wanted to put Dudley higher up the list. I and the other MPs worked hard to persuade the government we needed the cash.

“Hundreds of millions of pounds were on offer to transform secondary education, but the government has to make sure tax payers’ money is being well spent on imaginative plans so that education and ambition and aspiration really improve.

“There were repeated warnings that the plans would not make the grade.

“I personally explained the plans would not do the trick, as did the other MPs. Education ministers said the same. They also told Walsall Council who listened, revamped their plans and got the cash.

“Dudley insisted the plans were good enough, but their approach meant we lost out yet again.

“It is the same old story of lack of vision and Dudley losing out.

“We’ve won an assurance from ministers that they’ll look at another bid in the spring and we could get the funding then, but the council need to come up with better proposals.

“I think head teachers and their staff in Dudley work hard and do a good job, but they tell me they could do much more with better facilities, and imaginative ideas such as linking schools with universities or businesses to raise ambition and attainment.

“What the council should do now is sit down with everyone involved in education in the Borough so that we can come up with a proper plan that will make the grade.”