Refurbished Schools Open

In total, 180 new school buildings are opening in England this term, the highest number for thirty years.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls and nine other Labour ministers have visited thirty of the new schools to mark the new generation of 21st Century Schools, which have been opened under the Labour Government.

The Government claims that it is on track to re-build or refurbish every secondary school in the country in order to give pupils classrooms “fit for the future.”

Ed Balls MP commented: “We are seeing a genuine revolution in schools in this country. This term sees the highest number of new schools opened than at any time in the last thirty years with pupils and teachers coming back to study in bright and modern environments with classrooms fit for the future.”

In total, there are 24 brand new or totally refurbished schools which have been built through Labour’s Building Schools for the Future programme - the largest capital investment programme for 50 years.

The Building Schools for the Future programme promises to deliver more than 50 new schools this year, with £21.9bn due to be spent between 2008 and 2011 and a completion date of 2020 set for the project.

Academies are a key part of the drive to build and refurbish England's schools, and Mr Balls has announced that universities are expanding their involvement with the academy programme.

Over half of England’s universities have signed up to sponsor or partner an academy in their area as part of a drive to encourage pupils to consider higher education, and to raise attainment levels in schools.

In total, 47 new academies will open this month, with another four scheduled to open in January, creating a total of 134 Academies in England.

As a result of the refurbishment project many school pupils will be returning from the summer break to find themselves benefiting from a raft of new facilities such as excellent sports facilities, innovative ICT equipment and new multi-faith centres.

Ty Goddard, director of the British Council for School Environments (BCSE) welcomed the Government's commitment to renewing and refurbishing schools.

He said: "We've waited too long for our children and communities to get the buildings we want and need.
"School buildings are sometimes described as the 'third teacher'. The key now is to show that this is money well spent, and cement the case for investment in our learning environments.

Mr Balls added: "As every teacher, child and parent knows, going to school in a brand new building which is designed for the 21st century can make all the difference.

"We are now turning the corner on decades of under-investment and it's children and young people who are seeing the benefits."