SOUTHAMPTON could get £150m of Government money to transform its secondary school buildings by this summer.

The multi-million-pound cash offer comes weeks after the city was declared bottom of the class for its truancy levels and teen pregnancy rates - both the worst in the south.

Its results at GCSE, and in national tests for 11 and 14-year-olds, continue to fall well below the national average.

Now education bosses hope that the prospect of better buildings will help to improve results.

The Government minister responsible for schools Andrew Adonis has written to Southampton City Council to say a national programme to rebuild and refurbish secondary schools could be brought forward by three years to start this summer in Southampton.

Pressure The minister's letter follows local and national pressure from Southampton Itchen MP John Denham who has repeatedly highlighted how Southampton schools have failed to improve as rapidly as schools elsewhere in the country.

However, the awarding of any grants under the Building Schools for the Future Scheme is dependent on the council submitting a report by April on how it will improve standards.

Mr Denham said: "The minister's letter is a huge boost to the city and its parents. But it is also a stark challenge to the city to do better for our children.

"I hope the new leadership of the city council will take up the challenge and seize this opportunity after several years of drift."

Southampton City Council education boss Clive Webster said the council was in a good position to make its bid following the learning futures consultation last year, resulting in the closure of four city schools and creation of two academies. He said: "We expect competition to be fierce from other local authorities. The steps we have made so far, painful though many of them were, put us in a strong position."

Mr Webster said the creation of two academies, the expansion of Redbridge and Bitterne Park, and Bellemoor and Regent's Park becoming mixed, would all improve parental and pupil choice.

"I am optimistic that some of the measures over the past 18 months to two years will begin to bear fruit in the forthcoming year. I am optimistic, but not complacent, that standards will improve."

Councillor Matt Stevens, city council education Cabinet member, said "With an ambitious vision for the future, the Government's programme will offer the best opportunity to improve learning, teaching and the health and welfare of communities in Southampton."