EDUCATION chiefs are tabling an early bid for £150 million to completely rebuild four of Wyre Forest's secondary schools.

The project outlines plans for Baxter College and King Charles I School and Sixth Form Centre, in Kidderminster, Wolverley CE Secondary School, and Stourport High School and Sixth Form Centre to get new purpose-built schools.

Bewdley High School and Sixth Form Centre which has already had extensive construction work is proposed to be partially rebuilt.

The planned new special school in Kidderminster on the site of The Elms, in Habberley Road, is also included in the national Building Schools for the Future Scheme funds bid.

The district's schools were identified as the highest priority among all those in Worcestershire to receive the funding, in 2005.

The cash was due to be released in 2011, although no money had been allocated to individual councils, but the Government advised Worcestershire county councillors to table a bid - three years earlier than planned.

Worcestershire County Council cabinet members agreed to bid, yesterday, and must now submit the necessary paperwork to the Government's Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) by April 11.

County councillors will find out if the Government believes Wyre Forest schools meet the criteria to receive the cash, in June.

Liz Eyre, cabinet member for children and young people, believes the district has a good chance of securing the money.

She said: "Wyre Forest is at the top of the list in Worcestershire and we'll make a strong case.

"It is about deprivation - whether they DCSF think we need the money."

The county council will put up £4.5 million - three per cent of the total - towards administration and planning costs over three years, which could come from revenue reserves.

The £150 million will come from a private finance initiative - PFI - where a private firm or banks put up money to rebuild the schools.

Adrian Hardman, finance cabinet member, pointed out council tax-payers will not be saddled with years of debt repayments because the Government picks up the overall tab.

He said: "The great thing about this is because the Government picks up the revenue costing - like a 25-year mortgage on a house - it does not hit the local taxpayer, it falls on the Exchequer."

If the bid is successful, the county council will begin consulting headteachers and governors about new building designs and plans for the schools later this year.