Cash injection for school building programme

12:08pm Monday 17th November 2008

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Ambitious plans to rebuild crumbling schools in Barnet have been bolstered by a £11 million cash injection from the Government.

The borough has been granted the money as part of a £3.55 billion scheme announced by the Department for Children, Schools and Families last week.

The money will be spent on Barnet Council’s plan to rebuild nine run-down primary and secondary schools across the borough and create two new primary schools and a children’s centre.

Councillor Matthew Offord, cabinet member for investment in learning, said: “Our success in securing this new money provides us with a welcome opportunity to further develop our plans for investment in our primary schools.

“It is good news because it comes on top of the investment we have already committed to our own First Class Schools rebuilding programme, which has now begun to transform school sites across the borough.”

The remainder of the cash needed for the project will be generated through selling off school land, further grants, contributions from developers and borrowing.

Building work is already underway at five school sites, with the most advanced work at Whitings Hill Primary School in Whitings Road, Barnet.

Whitings Hill is due to open as a two form entry school, catering for up to 420 pupils and a nursery, in the autumn of 2009. A new swimming pool and sports area will also be available for community use.

Construction has also started at the new East Barnet Secondary School in Westbrook Crescent, New Barnet, The Hyde Primary School in The Hyde, West Hendon, Parkfield Primary School, in Park Road, Hendon and a new children’s centre in Underhill.

Design work has been completed on a new building for Broadfields Primary School in Broadfields Avenue, Edgware, which is the next school in line to be rebuilt, and design work is underway for Northway and Fairway schools in The Fairway, Mill Hill.

Announcing the nationwide investment last week, Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, 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.

“This huge capital investment will not only improve the education of our children, but help to support jobs in the construction industry and local businesses who will be crucial to fitting out the new and refurbished schools.”