MILLIONS of pounds will be ploughed into shaking up secondary school provision in the west of York, after the council was attained a huge funding bid from the Government, it emerged today.

As reported in earlier editions of today's Evening Press, the future of three city secondary schools hung in the balance as education chiefs anxiously awaited the Whitehall decision.

City of York Council won all three of its bids for cash. It has been awarded £13.5 million to rebuild a larger Manor School, and £8 million to create a replacement for Lowfield and Oaklands Schools by refurbishing the existing Oaklands School building.

The Government has also pledged £650,000 for a major programme to improve Wheldrake Primary School, between York and Selby. Now the council will be putting its proposals out for formal consultation. An initial consultation revealed most people supported the idea of merging Lowfield and Oaklands and extending Manor, although governors at Oaklands and Lowfield preferred to keep the status quo.

Patrick Scott, director of children's services at City of York Council, said today: "I'm absolutely delighted. It's come as such a surprise to us - we just didn't think we'd get all three."

Education chief Coun Carol Runciman said: "The schools all badly needed this funding to bring them up to date. It's a really important bid that we put in and I'm delighted it's been a success."

The programme of works would take a minimum of three or four years to complete, she added.

"We need to talk to the parents at the three secondary schools about what they want to see," she said.

"We'll offer a number of options to parents on the use of the money we've been granted."

The shake-up came about because of falling pupil rolls - as they stand there are 634 pupils at Manor, Oaklands has 885 and Lowfield has 520.

If the changes come about it would mean Manor taking 900 with the combined Lowfield and Oaklands School accounting for 1,050.

David Ellis, Oaklands head teacher, said: "I would very much welcome a new school which would state-of-the-art facilities for the 21st century for both staff and pupils and we will be working hard with staff and governors at Lowfield to make that happen."

John Thompson, head at Lowfield, said: "It is now two years since this all started and the fact that it has not been helpful for anybody involved, pupils, staff, governors or the local education authority.

"If this does go ahead it will be on the Oaklands site for the simple reason that there is a public sports centre there and it would cost too much money to resite that elsewhere."

Manor school head teacher, Brian Crosby, said: "We would be able to provide pupils with state-of-the-art facilities and we could expand our curriculum."

Should education provision be given a major shake-up in the west of York? Reporter SAM SOUTHGATE asked residents.

Stephanie Walker, 38, who has a 14-year-old son at Oaklands:

It does not sound like a good idea to me. They are going to completely clash. Maybe it could help some of the pupils academically. There is a stigma about Lowfield.

Christine Lloyd, 55, who has a 15-year-old daughter at Oaklands:

I would rather they did not merge. At least you have got a choice with two schools. They go from one time its Oaklands that's bad, then its Lowfield.

Chris Wellburn, 50, whose son is at Lowfield:

It is a very good school now. To leave us with just one school on the west of York people will have no option. It would be very big. Its success depends on the teaching staff.

Stacey Gunley, 18, a former Lowfield pupil:

I think it is a good idea because Lowfield did not have a very good reputation. When I was there it was better than people thought but because of the reputation they did not like to go.

Updated: 16:30 Wednesday, October 13, 2005