Preparing for the future with £5.5m school investment plans

FIVE-AND-A-HALF million pounds could be invested in school buildings in Staffordshire to ensure they are fit for the future.

The measures, which will be discussed at the county council’s Cabinet meeting on October 20, include refurbishing playgrounds, repairing roofs, and installing new windows.

The money will also be used to continue the county council’s successful school decarbonisation programme, replacing inefficient heating systems with more environmentally friendly options, installing new energy controls that monitor usage, and improving insulation.

Schools in the county are already benefitting from the programme, reducing their carbon emissions and contributing to the county council’s goals of reaching carbon net zero 2050. Now, 11 more schools could benefit from these works.

Jonathan Price, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education said: “We need to ensure our schools are fit for future learners, which is why we are continually investing our buildings. Having school buildings that have good facilities is proven to aid children’s learning, and this latest investment will upgrade the facilities of many more schools in the county.

“Our carbon neutral programme in schools has been incredibly successful, with schools already benefitting from upgraded systems that are better for the environment. This latest investment will see 11 more schools fitted with modern systems designed to regulate and reduce their carbon output, directly contributing to the county council’s ambitions of reaching net zero carbon by 2050.”