A multi-million-pound project to rebuild and refurbish the county’s secondary schools is under threat.

A report published by the National Audit Office today revealed the Government programme to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school in England is up to £10bn over budget and almost two years behind schedule.

Oxfordshire County Council was expecting to receive up to £400m, but Michael Waine, the council’s cabinet member for schools, feared the council might never see the money – despite the fact it has already set aside £4m to “plan and prepare” for the rebuilding programme.

He said: “It’s very worrying. We are planning in faith and have put money aside. Now we need to see the colour of the Government’s money.

“We are unsure about the future until we get further guidance, but there will be a lot of anger if the programme is cut.”

The county was expected to receive the first tranche of funding by 2010.

Andrew Smith, Labour MP for Oxford East, said the recession made it even more vital to push ahead with the school building scheme.