Primary schools get £46m facelift

HALF of Oldham’s primary schools are in for a facelift and new ones could be built after the Government promised a multi-million-pound cash injection last night.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls confirmed the borough had been given the green light for rebuilding and refurbishment work to go-ahead which is expected to secure £46 million of funding.

He said it was a once-in-a-generation chance to transform primary education in every part of the country.

Oldham’s cabinet member for children, young people and families, Councillor Kay Knox, said: “This is fantastic news for Oldham.

The Primary Capital Programme will see Oldham benefit from funding in the region of £46 million over 14 years to rebuild, remodel and refurbish 50 per cent of all primary schools including primary-age special schools.

“This investment in our schools will help to provide better education and put schools at the heart of the community.”

How the money will be spent — on new buildings, extensions or on refurbishments — will be decided by council bosses shortly.

More than 1,500 primary schools in England will be rebuilt or refurbished in the next two years under approved building plans valued at £3.55 billion.

More than 350 primary schools will be built, new facilities will be constructed, and major refurbishments carried out at a further 850 schools.

Smaller building works will take place at another 350.

It is all part of the Primary Capital Programme, which is investing at least £7 billion to rebuild or refurbish half of all primary and primary-age special schools by 2022-23.

Mr Balls said: “A decade ago many classroom facilities were in an appalling condition. Children deserve the best facilities that we can build and teachers deserve better classrooms to work in.”

Work on the 1,500 schools will begin over the next two years.