VITAL funding has been announced for work on 39 schools in Greater Manchester – several of which were at risk of having to close buildings due to disrepair and safety issues.
The Greater Manchester projects are among 117 schools in the north west that will receive a total of more than £62m funding to upgrade buildings.
The works are part of £1.8bn national investment confirmed today to ‘improve learning environments’. The Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) will be used to complete larger improvements to their schools such as upgrading heating systems, replacing roofs or rewiring electrical systems.
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Other schools that are looked after by councils, multi academy trusts and large voluntary aided school groups across England will also benefit from almost £1.2 billion to support them in similar large improvement projects through School Condition Allocations.
The government said the funding for schools will mean ‘newer roofs, heating systems and top of the line classrooms for schools up and down the country ensuring children are learning in high quality environments built for the future’.
Schools Minister, Damian Hinds, said: “From day-to-day maintenance to long lasting structural improvements this funding will support schools in the North West in providing high quality learning environments for all our children.
“We want every child to realise their potential and great school buildings are just one part of our work to drive up standards across the education system – with more pupils in good and outstanding schools than ever before.”
Allocations were informed by government’s condition data collection, which the they described as ‘one of the largest and most comprehensive surveys or school building condition in Europe, to target funding to where it is most needed’.
Here are all the schools in Wigan borough given funding for repairs:
Winstanley College- Replacement of central heating distribution to main building
St John Rigby RC Sixth Form College – Urgent boiler and heating distribution with low carbon solution
Standish St Wilfrid’s Church of England Primary Academy – Statutory electrical compliance works
St John’s Church of England Primary School, Abram – Electricity upgrade
St Mark’s CofE Primary School – Partial electrical refurbishment
Atherton St George’s CofE Primary School – Safeguarding scheme fencing
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