Coventry has been given the go-ahead by the government to continue with a £12m bid to re-build a crumbling school.

The city’s LEA is in line to receive part of the £650 million announced by Schools Minister Jacqui Smith for school capital projects through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

Coventry applied for PFI (Private Finance Initiative) in September last year to upgrade facilities and accommodation at Caludon Castle in Axholme Road.

The school's most recent Ofsted report praised the work of the school, but said that short-comings with the building had a direct effect on the standards achieved in mathematics, science, design and technology.

Two broad options are being considered for the scheme: a major refurbishment to update and improve the existing school site and buildings, or rebuilding the school and selling off some of its land.

It is not yet clear which option the DfEE is backing. Once the city council have been told how much funding they have a project team will be set up to draw up a detailed business plan

Cllr George Duggins, cabinet member, (Education and Library Services), said:

"This is excellent news - the hard work that has gone into drawing up this bid, and the further work that will go into making it reality is yet more proof of the city council's commitment to raising standards in education across the city.

Cllr Don Ewart, chair of governors at the school added:

“The school has many strengths and I am looking forward to the day that we can count excellent, purpose-built accommodation for all our pupils amongst those strengths."

The aim of the new project is to assist in further raising standards at the school. In addition, the project aims to:

• Improve accommodation in specific areas - this includes music accommodation and internal and external PE facilities and the installation of an ICT network across the site;

• Make the school energy efficient;

• Improve access and inclusion by providing appropriate accommodation

Headteacher John Conneely paid tribute to those who had put the bid together. He said:

"We owe a great debt of thanks to our Chair of Governers, Councillor Don Ewart, who has given his wholehearted support to this bid, and thanks to the LEA for all the hard work that has been put into it.

“Parents can be reassured that work to upgrade and improve the school for future pupils will not affect the quality of education given to students who are currently at the school."