South West schools to receive £22.5million to upgrade and refurbish buildings

A total of 69 schools across the South West will benefit from £22.5million to improve facilities.

The schools have been allocated a share of £560million in government funding to expand classrooms, upgrade facilities and improve the education of children across the whole country. This funding will ensure schools have well-maintained facilities to provide students with safe environments that support a high-quality education.

This funding will bring the total allocated to improve the condition of school buildings to £2billion this year - paving the way for the new transformative 10-year school building programme starting later this year with over £1billion funding for the first wave of 50 schools.

Today’s funding comes from the £560million announced by the Prime Minister last month as part of his New Deal for Britain, to help the nation bounce back from coronavirus by investing in infrastructure and skills and creating jobs. It is in addition to the £1.4billion of capital funding for 2020-21 already announced in April and is provided through the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF).

This major new investment will ensure our schools and colleges can focus on teaching, with brand new buildings and better facilities so that every child gets the world-class education they deserve.

Schools across the country have played their part in responding to coronavirus, ensuring their doors remained open for the children of essential workers, who have kept the NHS, public services and economy going throughout this crisis. In September, schools across England will safely reopen their doors to all pupils.

Investing in schools and education was a key promise made by the Conservatives during last year’s General Election. The £2billion allocated to improve our schools this year is on top of a £14billion injection into the school system over the next three years - recognising the additional work schools will need to do to help students to catch up.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

“Investing 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 condition funding to schools for projects this year to kick-start the economy and get the country moving again following coronavirus.

“This funding brings the total allocated to improve the condition of our school buildings to £2billion this year and paves the way for our new transformative 10-year school building programme starting later this year with over £1billion funding for the first wave of 50 schools.”