Telford and Wrekin Council unveils new school plans Published duration 1 November 2013

image caption The Telford Cooperative Academy and Lakeside Learning Campus are both expected to open in September 2015

Two new schools are set to be built in Telford under plans due to go before the council next week.

If approved, they would be in Stirchley and Oakengates, and replace three existing secondaries and one primary.

The new buildings are expected to cost almost £20m, with funding coming from the government's Building Schools for the Future scheme.

Telford and Wrekin Council said work could start early next year with the schools set to open in September 2015.

The Labour-led authority is expected to make a decision on the plans on Wednesday.

'Heart of community'

The proposals will see Lakeside Learning Campus replace the Lord Silkin School, with the nearby Grange primary school also later relocating to the same site.

Jim Collins, the assistant director for education and skills at Telford & Wrekin Council, said the new buildings would be "very much at the heart of the community" and also provide both post-16 and adult education.

The site will also feature a new library and leisure centre, and the parish council is also expected to be based there.

In Oakengates, the Telford Cooperative Academy is expected to be built around the new leisure centre.

It will replace the Sutherland School and Wrockwardine Wood Academy and provide places for about 1,200 pupils.

The Lakeside site is expected to provide places for 600 secondary pupils, a drop of 300 on those available at the current Lord Silkin School.