Cash boost for Hertfordshire schools
Posted by Claire Ward, MP for Watford, at 19:20, Tue 3 March 2009:
EVERY SCHOOL IN HERTFORDSHIRE TO GET CASH BOOST- PUPILS AND ECONOMY WILL BENEFIT SAYS MP
Claire Ward MP has welcomed news that schools across Hertfordshire will get extra funding this year.
As part of the Government's efforts to support local businesses and jobs through the recession, millions of pounds of spending on school buildings and repairs are being brought forward from 2010/11 to 2009/10.
Every school in Watford will benefit with £9.3 Million of funding brought forward from next year to this year across Hertfordshire - a total of £32.8 Million of spending this year. The funding will go direct to headteachers and schools can choose how to spend the money as they see fit, from building new classrooms or science laboratories to fitting out new gyms or ICT facilities.
In addition, the Government has allowed Hertfordshire council to bring forward £9.9 M for larger school building projects co-ordinated by the local authority – making a total of £36.8M of spending this year that the Government has brought forward to help local companies and schools.
This week's announcements mean a total of £69M will be spent on school buildings and repairs in Hertfordshire from April - £19.2 Million of it brought forward from the following year.
Ms Ward said said it was vital that the Government should do everything in its power to put extra money into the economy to help the country through the recession.
"I hope local schools will get on and spend the money - not just to improve facilities for pupils but to support small businesses and jobs in our area too.
But the MP made it clear that she would have liked the Conservative run county council to have responded a little more enthusiastically to the Government’s offer to bring forward spending on school building projects co-ordinated by the Council.
"I's disappointing that the Tories oppose our plan to bring forward spending on school buildings. Just at the time when we should be supporting the economy the Tories say they would actually cut spending, including billions of pounds from our school rebuilding programme. This would be bad news for local schools and bad news for local businesses.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. For more information please contact Claire Ward at her Parliament office on 020 7219 4910
2. Exact capital funding levels for individual schools will be confirmed shortly. However, the Government’s announcement that 40% of all Devolved Formula Capital allocated for 2010-11 will be brought forward to 2009-10 means:
3. o a typical unmodernised primary school of 250 pupils will now get £47,950 this year, including £13,700 brought forward from their 2010-11 allocations. A primary newly built, rebuilt or refurbished in the last decade will now get £23,975 up from £17,125.
o a typical unmodernised secondary school of 1000 pupils will now get £158,200, including £45,200 brought forward. A secondary newly built, rebuilt or refurbished in the last decade will now get £79,100 up from £56,500.
Comments
Commenting on this message is now disabled.
Posted by Christopher Thornton, 19:54, Tue 3 March 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
"I's disappointing that the Tories oppose our plan to bring forward spending on school buildings. Just at the time when we should be supporting the economy the Tories say they would actually cut spending, including billions of pounds from our school rebuilding programme. This would be bad news for local schools and bad news for local businesses.”
Such an insightful and fair view of Conservative economic and schools policy. These robotically-generated soundbites really are getting tiring. PLEASE either come back with a thoughtful and responsible critique of Tory and Lib Dem economic policy, or PLEASE don't mention it at all. PLEASE don't take us for fools.