News from Sheffield Labour

Betts and Blunkett welcome extra cash for Sheffield schools

Clive Betts MP (Sheffield Attercliffe) and David Blunkett MP (Sheffield Brightside) warmly welcomed today’s announcement by Ed Balls (Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families) that Sheffield schools will get additional cash for buildings and repairs 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 Sheffield will benefit from more than £3 million of additional funding brought forward from next year to this year – a total of £10,861,858 of spending this year. The funding goes direct to schools, which 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 Sheffield City Council to bring forward more than £5 million for larger school building projects coordinated by the local authority – making a total of £17,839,206 of spending this year.

This week’s announcements mean nearly £29 million will be spent on school buildings and repairs in Sheffield in 2009/10

Clive Betts said:

“I’m delighted that every school in our area will benefit from this injection of extra funding this year.

“This is all part of the Government’s efforts to put extra money into the economy this year to help the country through the recession. I know that local schools will want to get on and spend the money – not just to improve facilities for pupils but to support small businesses and jobs in our area too.

“Local school governors and teachers have been telling me how the dramatic increase in spending on building new schools and modernising and repairing existing schools has been having a significant impact on improving the attitudes and expectations of children, parents and teachers.

“In particular, governors continually contrast what is happening today with their experience of the 1980s and early 1990s, when schools were falling apart around teachers and pupils.

“It’s disappointing, but no real surprise given their track record, that the Conservatives have opposed this 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 government initiative is good news for local schools and for local builders and construction workers.”

David Blunkett said:

“I’m so pleased that even at the last moment, the Council supported by the MPs for Sheffield were persuaded to go forward with the bid for the money being brought forward and that the £5 million capital is in addition being allocated to Sheffield.

“The £29 million which is now earmarked for improving our primary schools is good for the children and good for the local economy, which will benefit in saving jobs and creating demand.”