County council announces a £30 million investment for Rugeley schools

In welcoming the announcement Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People, Ian Parry said: "This is great news for the young people of Rugeley and for the future of education in the area. I am delighted to be making this announcement so soon after taking office. It was important to us that this funding be invested at a local level, to meet local needs and aspirations.

"The Rugeley secondary schools formed a collaborative federation recently and have been looking to develop their vision for one combined school community. £30 million will allow us to facilitate this vision bringing huge benefits to current and future generations of young people, their families and the community as a whole."

Rugeley currently has two secondary schools and the jointly run Aelfgar Sixth Form Centre that operate under one Executive Headteacher.

Mark Sutton, Executive Headteacher of Fair Oak Business and Enterprise College and Hagley Park Sports College said: "I am very excited about the opportunity to transform learning that this funding will bring. This is something that the governing bodies of both high schools have been campaigning for. Our vision is for one large campus built near to the new Leisure facilities in the town that will provide for the education of all of the learners from age 11 upwards in Rugeley.

"I really believe that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will re-energise and regenerate our local community so that we can raise aspirations and live up to the ambitions of our young people."