School building 'falling behind schedule'

The government's Building Schools for the Future project is facing considerable delays after figures emerged that show some 24 of 38 schemes are running behind schedule.

It is likely that 37 schools will be completed by the end of this year, with previous estimates having put the total at around 200.

Delays and set backs facing the programme have been widely reported, however it is understood that this is the first time there has been an official acknowledgment of the fact.

Shadow Children's Secretary Michael Gove criticised the delays stating: "School's Secretary] Ed Balls' department simply doesn’t seem capable of handling large-scale projects like this. It is teachers, parents and children that are missing out as a result."

Meanwhile, the Co-Operative group has continued to pursue its Solar4Schhols scheme that seeks to install renewable energy technology in primary schools across the UK, which involves match-funding from the government.