North of England to benefit from investment to improve school buildings

Pupils across England are set to benefit from improved school facilities with half a billion pounds being invested in school buildings this year, the north of England to receive the largest allocation.

£483 million from the Condition Improvement Fund will go to 1,199 schools and the North of England will receive £93 million for 273 successful schools.

Many of the projects funded by Condition Improvement Fund should lead to improved classrooms, more energy efficient buildings and should reduce energy bills for schools – helping to meet the government’s net zero target.

The new School Rebuilding Programme announced by the Prime Minister last year is also on track, with the first 50 schools – supported by £1 billion in funding – confirmed in February.

Site inspections and detailed planning work is underway meaning construction of the first projects will begin in autumn 2021.

Schools minister Baroness Berridge said: “Alongside our ambitious rebuilding programme for schools over the next decade, this government is making sure children learn in the best possible environments. Providing every school with the financial support it needs to build back better for its students.

“Schools are the centres of our communities and both pupils and staff need to have up-to-date classrooms to learn and work in, that’s why the government is spending £1.8 Billion this year alone to improve school buildings.”       

Local authorities, larger multi-academy trusts and Voluntary Aided school bodies such as dioceses were allocated condition funding earlier this year in accordance with the latest data on their estates.

Smaller academy trusts and sixth form colleges have been able to submit bids to the Department for funding through the Condition Improvement Fund process, for essential maintenance and upgrades. The most pressing 1,199 projects across the country have been allocated funding.

The Department expects to confirm a further 50 projects in the next wave of the School Rebuilding programme later this year. Projects will range from replacing or refurbishing individual buildings through to whole school rebuilds.

The Department also plans to consult this year to gather views on how future projects are prioritised for the long-term programme, including how evidence about schools’ condition need may be provided to support prioritisation.