Under 10% of schools get pledged buildings

Education Secretary Michael Gove said work would "begin immediately" when he announced over 200 successful bidders in the government's Priority School Building programme in May.

But a survey of 158 of the schools by the Local Government Association found that only 19 have had any work procured.

It found that 92 have been contacted by the Education Funding Agency regarding work, but 66 (45 per cent) have heard nothing at all.

Education Minister David Laws insisted today that work on the highest-priority projects was "ahead of schedule," with the first rebuilt schools set to open their doors in September next year.

But he said the programme was always intended to take five years to complete, with work starting immediately only in the 42 schools which have qualified for direct government funding due to urgent need for improvements.

LGA children's board chairman David Simmonds said the funding announcement was positive news.

"But that was last summer," he said. "Many parents are still none the wiser about when their child's school will be brought up to scratch.

"This situation is now unacceptable and threatens to severely impact on our children's education. Councils are stepping in to keep schools running while government struggles to get its act together."