CRUMBLING classrooms at a York school are set to be replaced, despite a failed bid for Government funding, it was revealed today.

City of York Council chiefs pledged an extra £1.5 million to rid Huntington School of its "appalling" temporary buildings.

Coun Janet Looker, the council's executive member for education, will consider a report at the end of the month proposing that the council increases its share of the cash for the work at the school, following a failed bid for £1.5 million of Government funding.

Funding for the £4 million scheme was to come from four sources - £1 million from the school, £500,000 from the council's education Modernisation Fund, £1 million from City of York Council funds and £1.5 million from the Government.

The new proposals will see the modernisation fund money increase to £1 million, with the council finding an extra £1 million from its capital funds, to replace the £1.5 million which was asked for from the Government.

Richard Hartle, finance manager for education, said the scheme was such a high priority that the money would have to be found in case the next Government funding bid failed.

He said the Modernisation Fund, which came from central Government, had not yet been allocated to schools in the city, and that capital funding was likely to come from the sale of council land.

Coun Looker said a funding bid would be resubmitted at the end of the year, but if it failed, the money would be made available from the other sources to go ahead with the building scheme.

Coun Looker said: "I welcome this report, which offers us the chance to get on to work on Huntington right away.

"This new building must be started as soon as possible.

"We are acting as a guarantor to the school, to allow it to start planning and getting the work started.

"I've been out to Huntington School and I've seen the appalling state the school is in.

"I've got to make that commitment now, because that gives the school the security."

David Kibble, deputy head teacher at Huntington School, welcomed the news. He said: "We are thrilled to be getting rid of our cardboard city, it was an appalling situation for pupils and teachers.

"There is this additional money, no one is losing out."

But Ryedale MP John Greenway, a former governor at Huntington School, said all efforts should be made to ensure the money came from central Government.

He said: "If the Labour group is saying that one way or another they will find the £2 million, where would it come from?

"I believe the £2 million has to come from central Government."

Updated: 11:07 Tuesday, April 15, 2003