WORK on Medway's three academies, threatened by swingeing government cutbacks, is to go ahead as planned.

The Department for Education has confirmed that all three projects – Strood Academy, Bishop of Rochester Academy and Brompton Academy – will receive capital funding for new buildings.

The news has been welcomed by local education chiefs and politicians who have personally lobbied Education Secretary Michael Gove.

It had been thought that they could have been affected by the demise of the Building Schools for the Future scheme, which has been axed by the new Government.

Cllr Les Wicks, Medway Council's education boss, said : "This is great news for children and young people in Medway. Our three academies are part of the council's work to provide the best opportunities for our children and help improve educational standards in Medway.

"The new academies will also bring significant benefits to their local areas, providing excellent community facilities in inspiring buildings.

"I would like to congratulate everyone who has worked hard to secure this funding and look forward to continuing to work together in the future."

The Bishop of Rochester Academy is due to open at the start of term next month, when the former Chatham South and Medway Community colleges merge on one site in Magpie Hall Road, Chatham.

Work on the Brompton Academy, formerly New Brompton College in Marlborough Road, is due to be brought forward, with a provisional start date of next month.

Strood Academy opened in September last year, following the closure of Temple and Chapter schools.

Mark Reckless, MP for Rochester and Strood, said that when he learned that the future of all three academies was "under discussion" he joined forces with Medway's other two Conservative MPs, Chatham and Aylesford's Tracey Crouch and Gillingham's Rehman Chisthi.

He said: "In these very tight economic times the Coalition Government has prioritised crucial schools funding for us in Medway and, because of the tough but necessary decisions being taken on the public funding generally, we now have funding which is not just an unfunded aspiration, but is secure and sustainable."

Tracey Crouch lobbied the Government on behalf of the Bishop of Rochester Academy which is in her constituency.

She said: "It has been an unsettling time for parents, students and teachers. Now plans to build a modern single campus site at the new academy can concentrate on improving standards in the area."