COUNCILLORS have rubber-stamped a £36million revamp of the educational system in Purbeck, despite concerns over the current state of school funding.

Members of Dorset County Council’s cabinet gave final approval to plans under the Purbeck Review to move from a three-tier to a two-tier schools system in the district.

It will involve the expansion of 13 existing first schools into primary schools, the closure of four middle schools in Purbeck and the expansion of the Purbeck Upper School into a secondary school, with the changes brought in for September 2012.

The move has been put forward as a way of tackling a surplus of school places in the area and to help drive up educational standards.

Director for children’s services John Nash told the cabinet meeting that the project would cost a total of £36.5million and was confident funding could be found for the scheme despite recent cutbacks in public sector spending at national government level.

He said £26.2million had already been allocated for the scheme and the further £10million could be found from the council’s budgets in 2013 and 2014 if existing funding levels remained as they are.

Cabinet member for children’s services Toni Coombs said: “I am confident from what has been said that we have sufficient funding now and the will of the cabinet to ensure in forthcoming years we have the funding to finish the job.”

Council leader Angus Campbell said: “The only criticism should be that perhaps we should have got on with this earlier.”