• Plymouth and South West Devon to benefit from upgraded school facilities to improve the education of children.
• Conservative Government is investing £560 million to repair and upgrade school buildings, alongside a transformational 10-year school rebuilding programme.

Plymouth Conservative Group Leader Nick Kelly has welcomed the announcement that schools in Plymouth and South West Devon will benefit from £717,252 to improve school facilities.

Schools in Plymouth and South West Devon have been allocated a share of £560 million Government investment, 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 £2 billion this year - paving the way for the new transformative ten-year school building programme starting later this year with over £1 billion funding for the first wave of 50 schools.

Today’s funding comes from the £560 million 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 £1.4 billion 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 £2 billion allocated to improve our schools this year is on top of a £14 billion 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.

Commenting, Cllr Nick Kelly said:

“Coronavirus has taken a toll on us all, not least our children, who have been kept from their friends, their teachers and their schools.

“As we exit lockdown we must focus on getting children back to school – and ensure that schools have the facilities and classrooms they need to support the high-quality education our children deserve.

“This funding will help ensure all children have modern environments which will promote the very best possible schools and education, enabling them to gain all the knowledge and skills they need for success.” 

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 £560m 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 £2 billion this year, and paves the way for our new transformative ten-year school building programme starting later this year with over £1 billion funding for the first wave of 50 schools.”