TWO primary schools which were left out of pocket when their academy chain collapsed last year will receive more than £750,000, thanks to Bradford MP Imran Hussain.

Following meetings with ministers during the last academic year, Mr Hussain, Labour MP for Bradford East, has secured £755,000 of funding to support Barkerend and Thornbury Primary Leadership Academies.

The two schools were part of the Wakefield City Academies Trust which collapsed last year, leaving the schools in limbo and facing an uncertain future.

They will split £597,000 of Priority One Funding, which can be used to help secure and improve school buildings, and £158,000 of Multi-Academy Trust Development and Improvement Funding, which is used to improve educational outcomes and increase social mobility at the schools, by funding teacher and leadership staff, and providing professional development training.

The funding comes after months of campaigning by Mr Hussain with the Department for Education to support the two schools following the demise of WCAT just days into the 2017-18 academic year.

Mr Hussain said: “This funding is of course great news.

“I am pleased that after months of hard work, ministers have listened to the strong arguments around the need for additional funding to support and secure a positive future for Barkerend and Thornbury after much uncertainty and worry.

“We now need to see this additional funding followed up with a clear commitment from Star Academies to the future of these schools, and from the Department of Education to continue to support and monitor them as they put the collapse of WCAT and the serious difficulties that it has caused behind them.”

When WCAT collapsed last year, both Barkerend and Thornbury Academies were left around £300,000 out of pocket, after the money was transferred into a central pot.

Concerns around the Trust had been raised in 2016 around its finances.

Barkerend and Thornbury have since been taken over by Star Academies Trust, which also runs High Crags Primary Leadership Academy, and 21 other schools nationwide.

A spokesperson for Star Academies said: “Since taking over the schools, we have had fantastic support from all stakeholders across Bradford, including the local MP and councillors.

“This investment from the Department for Education is already having a positive impact on Barkerend and Thornbury Primary Leadership Academies.

“The schools are in excellent shape and the increased investment is delivering high quality educational outcomes for our young people.”