£3.5 million funding for High Peak schools

More than £3.6 million is to be spent improving High Peak schools.

At a meeting on Monday, members of Derbyshire County Council (DCC) approved a £16.8 million package of improvements for schools across the county.

Work to be carried out will see school buildings modernised and improved.

The funding includes £12.336 million for capital maintenance projects, with £6.956 million of that being set aside for priority condition-related work such as re-wiring, re-roofing or heating replacements, as well as £4.5 million for basic need schemes for 2014/15 to provide additional school places.

A pot of £500,000 of the cash would be earmarked for joint funding initiatives with schools, where the authority provides 50 per cent of the funding, which is matched by a school to make improvements. A further £100,000 would also be put aside to improve children’s homes. Plans for the remaining £743,693 are still being made.

Cllr Kevin Gillott, DCC cabinet member for children and young people, said: “There’s a huge backlog of school repairs that increase year on year.

“We’re making the most of the money we do get so we give Derbyshire children the best education and start in life but we’re facing unprecedented government budget cuts.

“We’ve given highest priority to buildings in the worst condition or where improvements are needed for health and safety reasons.

“However, there is no hiding my disappointment at the level of funding provided to the council by the coalition government.”

Schools set to benefit are:

• Glossopdale Community College - £2,000,000 towards a strategic investment plan to rebuild/refurbish the college.

• Buxton Community School - £220,000 for re-roofing

• Gamesley Early Excellence Centre - £220,000 for roof renewal works

• Lady Manners School, Bakewell - £150,000 to renew roof coverings

• New Mills Primary School - £120,000 for re-wiring

• Peak Dale Primary School - £150,000 for roof maintenance and updates

• Thornsett Primary School, Birch Vale - £110,000 to renew the heating system

• Gamesley Primary School - £177,000 for a single classroom extension to a modular building

• Hadfield Infant School - £160,000 to create a single classroom extension to a modular building

• Buxton Junior School - £250,000 for a single classroom extension

• Harpur Hill Primary School - £42,500 to contribute to a project to provide a double classroom extension