Coaker encourages school building plans

Minister of State for Schools and Learners Vernon Coaker MP has urged local authorities to forge ahead with plans to build new schools and create new teaching jobs.

Schools and local councils in England were granted and extra £939 million in capital funding for new build and refurbishment projects earlier this year, as a forward payment from 2010-11 budgets.

Mr Coaker said: "Whilst in some local authorities there has been good progress in the use of this additional funding that is not the picture everywhere."

"I would encourage all local authorities and schools to commission building projects as soon as possible that will make good use of the brought-forward allocations."

The money is also intended to fund small-scale modernisation projects in schools, such as the addition of gymnasium facilities and information technology centres.

On 18 December this year, Mr Coaker visited Priory Junior School in Gedling, the constituency for which he is the Labour representative, to speak to staff and students.

Published On 30/12/2009