​Two Gloucester schools will shut to make way for a new £20m academy – but another has had a stay of execution.

Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet agreed to take the first step in shutting Bishops’ College and Central Technology College to secure £20 million of funding to build a new academy.

Yesterday’s decision to post a closure notice means the schools will shut by September 2010 – but Vale of Berkeley College’s governors have been given four months to work up a community trust school bid. Even if they fail, the school would close in September 2011, a year later than proposed.

Councillor Jackie Hall, county council cabinet member for schools, said: “While closing schools is never easy, in this case I am sure that we have made the correct decision.

“The academy will provide excellent opportunities for all pupils and will be a great boost to the city as a whole.

“We need more builders and engineers – the recession won’t last. We need to look over the horizon.”

All three schools were part of the Government’s National Challenge and a recent review carried out by educationalist Graham Badman concluded they should close because of falling numbers, higher running costs, and standards not rising fast enough.

There are a total of 800 surplus places at the two city schools, which have received more than £1 million in extra funding to improve standards.

Members heard how they would be replaced by a £20m academy sponsored by Gloucestershire College, Prospects and, possibly, Unilever.

Though no decision on location has been made, Central Technology College’s (CTC) Cotteswold Road site is a more likely option. To begin with the academy would run from both sites.

The council wanted to get the paperwork done before the General Election in case it lost funding commitment from the Government.

Campaigners have been protesting against the closure proposals for the past few months.

But David Fuller, managing director of the Academies Enterprise Trust and executive head of a successful London academy, said it was an opportunity for a new start.

“Academies are a real opportunity to re-invest in our young people’s future, to bring in extra resources and share expertise and change the life choices of the young people who are the future of the community,” he told the Cabinet.

An academy will not be under local authority control but would be funded to the same level.

Closing CTC will mean the rest of the county’s schools will shoulder its £540,000 deficit.

Vale of Berkeley College’s governors have been given more time to prove a co-operative trust school can work.

In the next four months they must demonstrate the move would raise standards, cut costs and increase the number of pupils on the roll.

If they cannot fulfil those criteria, the school will close in September 2011.

“During the consultation I listened to parents, staff and governors talking passionately about this school. But the fact remains that it is not viable in the long term,” said Councillor Hall.

“Doing nothing is not an option. We have to make changes to ensure every child gets the best education possible.

“We don’t know if a co-operative trust would work and we cannot proceed down this route until we know for certain.

“We have agreed to defer our decision until June to give officers and the Cabinet time to investigate the school’s proposal fully and to provide evidence that it is the best way forward for pupils.”

She added: “The very heart of the decision must be about improving education for the young people in Gloucestershire, both here and now and in the long term.”

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

The Academy

Q: When will the schools close?

A: Term will continue until July but the official closure date will be August 31, 2010.

Q: Where will the new academy be built?

A: Initially the two school sites will be used. No decision has been made on which one it will be built on but Central Technology College is a more probable option. New buildings should be finished by September 2013.

Q: Who will run the new academy?

A: Prospects will be the main sponsor, with co-sponsors including Gloucestershire College and possibly Unilever.

The Diocese of Gloucester and Gloucestershire County Council will be partners in the school but it will be run outside local authority control.

Q: Who will be the head teacher?

A: The role of principal will be advertised externally.

Q: What happens if there is a change of Government this summer?

A: Schools minister Vernon Coaker has assured the council the money is in place, and Conservative leader David Cameron has said he will honour an agreement made before the election.

Vale of Berkeley College:

Q: When will we know if it is saved?

A: Governors have until June to prove the co-operative trust proposal would drive up standards, cut costs and increase pupil numbers.

Q: What is a co-operative trust?

A: The school’s governors propose changing the school’s status to a foundation school to become a charitable trust called The Vale of Berkeley Co-operative Learning Trust. Partners would including parish and town councils, and other partners would come in to strengthen the curriculum.

Q:What if the governors can’t prove it will work?

A:The school would close in September 2011, a year later than planned because there would not be enough time to close it by this September. Children would be dispersed to other schools, mainly Rednock in Dursley and Katharine Lady Berkeley’s (CORR) in Wotton-under-Edge.

For reaction to the announcement don't miss today's The Citizen.