Schools and colleges across the country are set to receive a share of £2.5 billion to upgrade their buildings, and create extra pupil places, the Government has announced.
It comes after unions warned that action must be taken by the Government to ensure deteriorating school buildings 'at risk of collapse' are made safe.
The money will consist of £1.8 billion investment for the 2023-24 financial year to improve the conditions of the school estate in England, the PA news agency reports. Of that funding, schools in Greater Manchester are set to receive around £3.6 million.
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A further £487 million will be invested to help councils across England provide additional school places needed for September 2026.
The Government says this will allow thousands of extra primary and secondary school places in good and outstanding schools to be created by then.
The money comes on top of the School Rebuilding Programme which the Government says will "transform" buildings at 500 schools across the country over the next decade – with priority given to those in poor condition.
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said: "This significant investment will transform school and college buildings across the country so that they are fit for the future and can provide the best education for students, no matter where they live.
"We want every young person to have access to high-quality facilities and learning environments, to gain the skills they need to climb the ladder of opportunity into further study and work, whilst supporting efforts to grow the economy."
In an open letter to Education Secretary Gillian Keegan in February, seven unions urged the Government to ensure school buildings 'at risk of collapse' are made safe.
The letter – from the National Education Union (NEU), school leaders’ union NAHT, the NASUWT teaching union, Unison, Unite, GMB and Community – said it is "shocking" that a Department for Education (DfE) report acknowledged some school buildings are at risk of collapse.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, said the state of buildings was a "disaster waiting to happen" and "could cost lives" if action was not taken.
Educational establishments eligible for the latest round of funding include, local authorities and local-authority-maintained schools, including maintained nursery schools, local voluntary-aided bodies and voluntary-aided schools, academies and large multi-academy trusts (MATs), sixth-form colleges, special schools not maintained by the local authority, special post-16 institutions with eligible students.
The funding is calculated by counting pupils that are sole, dual-main, or dual-subsidiary enrolled. If pupils are registered at more than one institution, the money is divided by the number of institutions that pupil is registered at.
Of the £1.8bn, below is a breakdown of the funding that schools, specialist schools, and specialist post-16 institutions will receive between 2023 and 2024.
Bolton
Schools in Bolton are set to receive around £352,365 in extra funding to upgrade their buildings and create extra places.
One Non-Maintained Special School in Bolton - Birtenshaw - is set to receive £6,759.
And three Special Post 16 institutions - Birtenshaw, LifeBridge ASEND and Woodbridge College are set to receive a total of £17,923.
Bury
Schools in Bury are set to receive around £221,808 in extra funding to upgrade their buildings and create extra places.
Manchester
Schools in Manchester are set to receive around £419,081 in extra funding to upgrade their buildings and create extra places.
Two Special Post 16 Insitutions - Bridge College and Digital Advantage - are set to receive a total of £12,071
Oldham
Schools in Oldham are set to receive around £419,081 in extra funding to upgrade their buildings and create extra places.
One Special Post 16 Institution - Future Finders Employability College - is set to receive £4,658
Rochdale
Schools in Rochdale are set to receive around £281,062 in extra funding to upgrade their buildings and create extra places.
Salford
Schools in Salford are set to receive around £399,504 in extra funding to upgrade their buildings and create extra places.
Two Special Post 16 Institutions - Langdon College and Chatsworth Futures Limited - are set to receive a total of £11,037.
Stockport
Schools in Stockport are set to receive around £382,797 in extra funding to upgrade their buildings and create extra places.
One Non-Maintained Special School - Royal School Manchester - is set to receive £6,582.
Two Special Post 16 Institutions - Pure innovations Trading as Pure College and Royal College Manchester - are set to receive a total of £11,189.
Tameside
Schools in Tameside are set to receive around £310,144 in extra funding to upgrade their buildings and create extra places.
One Special Post 16 Institution - Works 4 U Support Services - is expected to receive £6,985.
Trafford
Schools in Trafford are set to receive around £505, 213 in extra funding to upgrade their buildings and create extra places.
One Non-Maintained Special School - St John Vianney School - is set to receive £9,771.
One Special Post 16 Institution - Brentwood Community College - is set to receive £5,063.
Wigan
Schools in Wigan are set to receive around £409,998 in extra funding to upgrade their buildings and create extra places.
Three Special Post 16 Institutions - Fir Tree College, My Life Learning and TMP Studios - are set to receive a total of £15, 848.
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