LEADERS of three academy schools near Bristol are celebrating news that the Government will pay for their new buildings.

The Ridings' Federation in South Gloucestershire is thrilled that Education Secretary Michael Gove will fund the £16 million scheme to rebuild Yate International Academy and will look favourably on investing in Winterbourne International Academy .

Meanwhile Cabot Learning Federation, which runs three academies in Bristol , is delighted that its plans to develop Hans Price Academy on the site of Wyvern Community School in Weston-super-Mare will be given financial backing.

Neither federation expects the Government to stump up for a full rebuild at Wyvern or Winterbourne. But each says the promise of cash means it can proceed with plans for buildings that will make a difference.

Both organisations say the funding pledge from Mr Gove is recognition of the contribution they are making to raising educational standards.

David Carter, executive principal of Cabot Learning Federation, said: "We are delighted the learn that the Secretary of State for Education is aware of our plans to open Hans Price Academy and that he recognises the importance of capital investment in the project.

"We look forward to working with North Somerset local authority and the Department for Education to fulfil our ambition to create a world-class school in Weston-super-Mare."

Mr Gove's decision early last month to review 123 academy projects, including Hans Price, led the Cabot federation to delay its plans to open the academy in Weston by a year.

Dr Rob Gibson, chief executive principal of The Ridings' Federation, said: "The outcome of the Secretary of State's decision is a real vote of confidence in The Ridings Federation of Academies, and in particular, Yate International Academy, its students and staff."

He said the federation had worked tirelessly to put forward a strong case for continuing the Yate rebuild and had received support from Sheila Cook, South Gloucestershire's executive councillor for children.

"This has been a truly inspiring community effort and it will ultimately be the community that will benefit as a result of this decision," he added.

Mike Hayward, chairman of the academy trust, said: "I, too, am delighted that the strength of our case has been recognised; the federation promised a rebuild and we are determined to make sure it happens as part of our commitment to Yate. Having good modern buildings can only make our job easier in making the academy even more attractive to the parents and students in the town."

The three academy schemes were among 123 whose funding was frozen while Mr Gove's officials checked their plans. On Friday, the Education Secretary said 44 projects that were at an advanced stage, including Yate, could have money straight away.

This means the new buildings should be open by September 2012 as planned, replacing the old King Edmund Community School in which the academy opened last year.

The Cabot federation had been promised £18 million for the Hans Price Academy but will have to wait until after the Government's October review of all public spending to find out how much it will get for its plans to create a school to replace Wyvern.

The Ridings' Federation will also discover after October what it might be allocated to improve the former Ridings High School buildings, which house Winterbourne International Academy.