Six “crumbling and dilapidated” Nottinghamshire schools have been named in a list of sites to be refurbished or rebuilt under a national Government scheme. Three of the schools are in Mansfield, and the rest are in Hucknall, Chilwell and Ollerton.
It comes as part of the Government’s Schools Rebuilding Programme which says it will create sites “fit for the future”. The new buildings will be more energy efficient for future winter weather and will be net-zero on carbon emissions.
Ministers say old facilities will be replaced with “modern education environments”. No details have yet been published about whether the Nottinghamshire sites will have full rebuilds or major refurbishments.
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However, Nottinghamshire County Council said: “The work will see crumbling, dilapidated old facilities replaced by modern classrooms, sports halls, science labs and dining rooms.” The six schools involved are The Garibaldi School, Meden School and All Saints Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Mansfield.
The Holgate Academy, in Hucknall, The Dukeries Academy, in Ollerton, and Chilwell School were also included on the list published today (December 16). They are among 239 new schools and sixth forms due to benefit from renovation projects, with 161 sites already announced last year.
Councillor Ben Bradley (Con), Mansfield’s MP, is also the leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, the local education authority. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service as the news was confirmed, he welcomed the extra support for both his parliamentary constituency and across the county.
He said: “It’s fantastic news. This is not just little bits of capital, it’s big, major rebuilding and refurbishment projects. We’re waiting for the details as to the next steps in that process, but Meden, All Saints and Garibaldi are schools I have visited many times.
“They do have significant challenges, they’re very old buildings that aren’t fit for purpose any more and the chance to rebuild and refurbish huge swathes of those estates will be brilliant. This is not just for our wider school network and for education but for those kids to feel like somebody is investing in them and making things better.
“It will just make such a massive difference to people for generations.” The Schools Rebuilding Programme is part of a £1.8billion Whitehall funding pot for this academic year.
It is helping to rebuild and refurbish primary, secondary and specialist schools, as well as sixth-form colleges, with £13bn invested to maintain and improve schools since 2015. The majority of the projects are expected to be completed in the next three to five years.
The Government says each school was selected based on the condition of its existing buildings. This, it says, makes sure the improvements are targeted to schools that “need them the most”.
Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education, said: “Despite facing challenging economic circumstances, we are investing a record amount in our schools and colleges. Today’s announcement will transform hundreds of schools across the country and ensure they are fit for the future.”
The news has also been welcomed by two of the schools included in Friday’s list. Heather Widdup, executive principal at The Holgate Academy in Hucknall, said: “We are ambitious for what our young people can achieve.
“Our whole staff team are incredibly excited about what the future holds for Holgate and how this capital investment will help us elevate our student’s aspirations. We look forward to working with the Department for Education and shaping a new era for The Holgate Academy.”
David Phillips, headteacher at Chilwell School, added: “We’re absolutely delighted with the news. We’ve worked very closely with the local authority on this bid, and I’d say this is collaborative working at its very best.
“It’s been a long campaign, but we’ll be reaping the rewards for generations to come both at school and in the wider community.”
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