£180m to upgrade schools
A FUNDING boost amounting to £180million will help modernise 580 English schools, it has been announced.
The cash will be spent on improvements and repairs at academies, sixth-form colleges and faith schools.
It was revealed after Boris Johnson pledged to fast-track £560million to transform ailing buildings across the country.
The rest of the money will be given to local authorities and larger multi-academy trusts for renovation work.
Education Secretary Gavin-Williamson said:
“As we work towards all children returning to school in September, this investment in our school and college buildings helps create modern environments that lend themselves to great teaching, making sure every child has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.We have worked at great speed to release this additional £560million of funding to schools for projects this year to kick-start the economy and transform the buildings.”
The funding allocated to schools today will be used for everything from upgrading of boilers to the complete refurbishment of classroom blocks.The projects will be done by April.
It comes on top of the £1.4billion already allocated this financial year to improve schools.
The Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, said it would use the extra cash to build six classrooms.
Chief executive Brendan Tapping said: “The improvements to our building will greatly enhance the experience of our students, not least because we will be able to build the new facilities to the most modern standards.
“With our plans coming together to enable children to return to school in September, it is great to be able to look to the future.”