£80m grant would be huge boost for schools (From Warrington Guardian)

£80m grant would be huge boost for schools

9:00am Saturday 5th December 2009

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WARRINGTON schools are in line for a massive cash boost after having a regeneration bid accepted by the Government.

Four high schools in Warrington could be handed £80 million for developments when a final decision is made by the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

‘I am looking forward to the project taking shape and the community'

– Clr Sheila Woodyatt

The council said that being accepted on to the BSF grant scheme ‘was a massive step’ towards gaining multi-million pound funding.

Culcheth High School has already received £30 million from the scheme, which aims to move schools ‘into the 21st century’.

Now another huge sum could be invested at William Beamont High School in Orford, Penketh High School, Padgate’s Lysander High School and Sir Thomas Boteler CE High School in Latchford.

If authorised, work will begin next summer to ‘regenerate and rejuvenate the schools.

The money will be spent on refurbishing existing buildings and modernising the infrastructure, with a focus on developing classrooms and ‘transforming the learning experience of pupils’.

Warrington North MP Helen Jones has welcomed the investment.

She said: “This is yet another significant investment in Warrington by the Government and will continue the process of rebuilding our secondary schools.

“Warrington will be one of 11 local authorities sharing an overall £800 million.”

The figure represents ‘the single largest investment for improving secondary school buildings in 50 years’, according to the department for children, schools and families.

Schools minister Vernon Coakes said: “I am delighted to announce the most ambitious public building programme for decades, revamping the entire secondary school estate.

“This is great news for the local authorities included. Superb facilities will transform the way teachers teach and young people learn.”

Executive board member for children’s services, Clr Sheila Woodyatt, agreed with the optimism surrounding the accepted bid.

She said: “Our young people deserve modern schools.

“Thanks to another successful BSF bid many more pupils attending more schools will benefit from top class facilities.

“I am looking forward to the project taking shape and the difference it will make not only to teachers and pupils, but also the community.”

The £30 million BSF scheme already under way at Culcheth High School has seen new teaching buildings constructed. Modern classrooms are being built on the sports field at the existing site on Withington Avenue.

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