Ambitious £300m plans to modernise every secondary school in Kingston were thrown into doubt this week, when the new Government confirmed it was reviewing money pledged to the borough when it entered a school building programme last November.

The council prioritised building a new eight form of entry secondary school in north Kingston in its Building Schools for the Future (BSF) bid, and in February future Education Minister Michael Gove said he would honour this and other projects that were under way if elected.

However, reports this week claimed councils that had not yet appointed contractors could lose BSF money, as the Government attempts to tackle deficits and fund the flagship Conservative policy of free schools.

Kingston Council confirmed it had not appointed a contractor for the new school, due to open in 2015, because its size and design were still under discussion, but believed it would secure alternative “basic needs” funding after the June 22 budget, if the BSF money fell through.

However, BSF money remains uncertain for an additional eight forms of entry across other Kingston secondary schools and money to rebuild Southborough and Tolworth Girls’ School and remodel the remaining secondary schools.

Councillor Derek Osbourne, leader of Kingston Council, said: “I think the deal we already have is at risk and we will be watching it very carefully.

"Until we get greater detail from central government we will not have absolute clarity. We will be fighting to retain this money.

“It would not surprise me if they redirect some BSF money to primary education. That would make sense to me because the most immediate need for school places is in the primary sector, although that will feed through to the secondary sector very quickly.”

Stephen Chamberlain, headteacher of Hollyfield School in Surbiton, said: “To lose the money from the BSF programme would be very disappointing.

"We are a high achieving school in the top local authority in the country, but to go on improving we need better facilities than dilapidated 1950s accommodation designed to last 25 years. Moreover, our children deserve better.”

The council said it had not been put on notice of a possible funding cut, and had been advised to continue working on the programme as before.

Kingston and Surbiton MP Edward Davey, who campaigned for increased education funding in Kingston but is now bound by collective ministerial responsibility as a government minister, said he did not think a decision had been made yet.

He pledged that, if Kingston’s money was cut, he would “make my voice heard in one way or another.”

The Department for Education said: “The department has not yet made a decision on BSF or any other capital programmes.

“The Government is committed to a full comprehensive spending review in the autumn and ministers will shortly be considering their spending priorities, which will take into account all areas of spending including schools capital.”