The minister of state for schools has said that the case for bringing forward the rebuilding of Newark Academy will be looked at but has offered no guarantees that it can be accelerated.
Mr David Laws also said at a Westminster Hall debate yesterday (Wednesday, March 13) that he would like to visit Newark at some stage.
The debate on Newark's secondary schools was organised by MP Mr Patrick Mercer and attended by campaigners and the headteacher of Newark Academy, Karine Jasper.
Mr Mercer said he was sure Mr Laws would do all he could to see if there was any way the schedule for the desperately needed rebuild of the Academy could be brought forward.
Under current plans it may not be completed until 2017. Mr Laws said there were other schools that were currently a higher priority.
Mr Mercer said: "It is clear to me that the minister was highly receptive and very direct with me. Any advantage for Newark would be a disadvantage somewhere else and I can see how difficult that is from his point of view.
"He will bend over backwards to see if there is any latitude with the academy. There was a note of optimism on which I intend to capitalise."
The situations at the Magnus Church of England School, Newark, Toot Hill School, Bingham, and the delayed Exemplar Newark Business Academy were also touched on at the debate.
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