Work on 100 rebuilding projects for crumbling schools kicks off this week

Work on 100 rebuilding projects will kick off this month as ministers accelerate work on fixing Britain’s schools.

The government is spending £1.4 billion this year on urgently improving the condition of school buildings - some of which Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said were “falling apart.”

“Every child deserves a great school. Every child deserves a classroom they can take pride in,” she told the Sunday .

“Because every child deserves to grow up knowing that success belongs to them….I’m driving forward our School Rebuilding Programme.

“And I’m pleased to tell to Mirror readers that we’re kicking off work on 100 more schools from this month.

“I’m ramping up our work because I know how much this matters to kids and parents.”

The projects are part of the government’s commitment to rebuild or refurbish 518 schools and sixth form colleges across England.

Around half of all projects in the programme have started various stages of delivery activity - with work including replacing roofs, windows and heating systems.

'Labour is acting – to rebuild our schools, to reinvest in our children, and to reignite their futures'

By Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary

Every child deserves a great school. Every child deserves a classroom they can take pride in. Because every child deserves to grow up knowing that success belongs to them.

But how can they, if every morning they walk into a shabby school that’s falling apart?

What does a second-rate classroom tell kids about their futures?

The defining image of 14 years of Tory government was children in classrooms sitting under steel props to stop crumbly concrete falling on their heads.

It’s not good enough.

So is acting – to rebuild our schools, to reinvest in our children, and to reignite their futures.

I’m driving forward our School Rebuilding Programme. And I’m pleased to tell Mirror readers that we’re kicking off work on 100 more schools from this month. I’m ramping this up because it really matters to kids and parents.

The decisions made at the restored our economic stability and delivered on the priorities of working people.

That's why we can push on towards our goal to rebuild and refurbish 518 schools and sixth form colleges across the country, backed by £1.4bn this year.

And last month we announced £2.1bn to keep school buildings up to scratch – things like replacing roofs and fitting new windows.

After 14 years of the Conservatives’ economic chaos the Chancellor protected education priorities at the Budget, because this Labour government is investing in our children, their futures and the future of our country.

We’re keeping the promises we made to parents through our Plan for Change.

Just this week I announced £37m for the first wave of 300 school-based nurseries. Our childcare expansion is marching on and will save parents up to £7,500 a year.

And we’re rolling out free breakfast clubs in the first 750 primary schools. They’re good for attendance and behaviour, they help kids get top marks – and they save parents up to £450 a year.

I know families are struggling with the cost of living. So our new restrictions on branded uniform will save them even more money.

READ MORE:

We’re acting to protect parents’ pockets and promote children’s futures.

To drive up school standards, we’ve put together new improvement teams of top teachers to spread what works across our schools. And we’re bringing in Ofsted report cards to give parents a proper look at school performance, replacing reductive headline grades.

Proper change doesn’t come overnight. But just 9 months on from the election, our Labour government is rebuilding our schools and restoring hope for a brighter future. Because this is a government that keeps promises, backs parents, and champions children. A government with a plan for change and the determination to see it through.