Primary schools to undergo rebuild or refurbishment
2008-11-13
A large number of England's primary schools are set to either be rebuilt or refurbished in a programme set to cost £3.55bn over the next two years.The Department for Children, Schools and Families is contributing £1.75bn towards the work, while this figure is being matched by local authorities.
Overall, the projects are a part of the Primary Capital Programme, which will invest £7bn by 2022-23 to support the development of over half of all the primary schools in England.
Essex is to receive the largest share of the funding, as the county is being given £30.2m, with part being used in the construction of five new schools and two replacement schools, all of which will have to follow Part B regulations.
Schools secretary Ed Balls said: "This is a once-in-a-generation chance to transform primary education in every part of the country - to sweep away buildings now reaching the end of their shelf-life and drive up the quality of our schools."
Among the aims of the Primary Capital Programme is to ensure that primary schools provide a "quality learning environment".
