|
|
11/04/08 : Labour’s £47M investment in school buildings
Reading’s Labour Council plans to spend £47million on school buildings over the next three years. £32million is committed now with a further £15million dependent on the outcome of funding bids.
Four schools are to be replaced: Coley Primary School; EP Collier Primary School; Ranikhet Primary School, which will be rebuilt as part of the Dee Park Regeneration Scheme; and Park Lane Primary School, currently a multi-site school, which will be rebuilt on a single site, together with a library and health clinic.
Other major investments will include the following.
Improvements to buildings at Norcot Nursery School, Whitley Park Infant and Junior schools, Redlands Primary School, Thameside Primary School, Emmer Green Primary School, Upcroft Primary School, Moorlands Primary School, Oxford Road Primary School.
Increased capacity at Katesgrove Primary School, Newtown Primary School, New Christchurch Primary School, Holybrook Special School, and Highdown and Reading Girls secondary schools.
Increased sixth form facilities at Highdown, Blessed Hugh Faringdon and Prospect School and capital works to support the growing federation between Kendrick and Reading Girls' School.
Facilities for reception classes in all primary schools to come up to an agreed new higher level to recognise younger four year olds starting in school earlier than was previously the case.
Funding, in due course for every primary school, prioritising schools in the most geographically deprived areas for development, for each school to have access to a multi-use games area, all classes to have access to outdoor classroom with a canopy, a community/ parents room in every school and a medical room in every school.
The projects will help to provide the facilities envisaged in Reading's ambitious visions for primary education and for secondary education, both of which are currently being developed in consultation with schools and residents who wish to submit their views.
Jon Hartley, Lead Councillor for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: "This level of increase in capital funding will make a big difference to the speed at which we can make improvements to Reading's school buildings.
"Our schools have made substantial improvements in recent years but to progress further they need buildings and facilities that fully support our vision for the future of education in Reading."
Visit our News Archive
|
|
|
|
|
|
