Three schools in County Durham are set for upgrades to their facilities after they were included in the government’s School Rebuilding Programme.
Ferryhill Station Primary School, Framwellgate School and St Leonard’s Catholic School are among 61 schools nationally which will benefit as part of the scheme.
The Department for Education (DfE) will start a project to replace or refurbish one or more buildings at each of the schools, with the aim of maintaining high educational standards for all pupils for decades to come.
Durham County Council will work with the DfE to agree the educational design of the project at Ferryhill Station Primary School and the timeframe for delivery.
Cllr Ted Henderson, the council’s Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “We are very pleased to see three schools in County Durham included in the latest announcement. This will see a significant investment in the environments in which our children and young people learn.
“We will support staff and pupils throughout the building process to make sure all needs are met.”
Located in Chilton Lane, Ferryhill Station Primary School is overseen by the local authority.
The school’s executive headteacher Joanne Sones said: “I am delighted to hear that our school is part of the School Rebuilding Programme. We love our little school, but it was built in the 1870s when education was very different. It is now showing its age and is in need of the kind of investment the programme will provide.
“We are excited for our children to have an improved environment that can support them in their learning and help them to thrive and grow. They deserve it.”
The rebuilds and refurbishments as part of the Schools Rebuilding Programme will create modern education environments, providing new facilities from classrooms and science labs, to sports halls and dining rooms. The new school buildings will also be net-zero carbon in operation, helping meet the council and the government’s net zero targets.
The programme is due to deliver 500 rebuilding projects nationally over the next decade, which will benefit tens of thousands of pupils over their lifetime.
The three County Durham schools are part of an announcement of 61 new projects across the country, including primary, secondary and special schools.
Education secretary James Cleverly said: “Our School Rebuilding Programme is already making a difference to the lives of pupils and their teachers. It is creating greener school sites that are fit for the future and that local communities can be proud of.
“We know how important it is to have high-quality school facilities. That is why we continue to invest billions in our rebuilding programme.”
