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School Buildings (Alnwick)

I understand the right hon. Gentleman's point. In Northumberland, 9.6 per cent. of the dedicated schools grant is for disadvantaged pupils, compared with a national average of 12.1 per cent. He has acknowledged that the pockets of deprivation in Northumberland are fairly small compared with the rest of the country. The Government must decide how to weight such funding. He may wish to discuss that matter with the Minister for Schools and Learners. As the Minister with responsibility for children's centres, I find that deprivation is often felt more strongly within communities than is demonstrated when compared with deprivation across the country. Such pressure points inevitably emerge when weighted formulas are used. The right hon. Gentleman asked about the programme date for the next phase of Building Schools for the Future. I cannot give the assurances that he seeks this afternoon, but the Minister for Schools and Learners will discuss those matters with him. I have mentioned the capital moneys that are available to the local community, and I am sure that he is pressing the local authority on further investment in the schools that he has identified. The right hon. Gentleman went on to discuss the desire for the development of an academy in his constituency and said that strong partners are waiting in the wings until consideration of such a project comes forward. As he knows, the criteria that usually trigger academies are the national challenge and being near the threshold for poor performance, neither of which exist in the schools that he has identified. In one sense, that is a matter for celebration, because the schools have good achievement. However, I understand his frustration, because of the enthusiasm of local parents and partners for an academy programme. He will be able to discuss that matter in detail with the Minister for Schools and Learners during his visit.