£88m boost for region's schools

Schools across the East of England will share £88m to improve and build new buildings, the government has revealed.

The 20 projects receiving funds include a new £14.5m faith school in Norfolk and a £5.7m sports centre in Herts.

Education Secretary Ruth Kelly said the announcement was "great news" for schools in the East of England.

Nationally, funds invested in schools had increased six-fold. In 2007-08 £6.3bn would be invested compared to £683m in 1996-97, she added.

Projects receiving funding in the East include: Cambridgeshire, The Vine CE School, £2.1m Essex, Chelmsford County High School for Girls, £9.4m Hertfordshire, Birchwood High School learning and sports centre development, £5.7m Suffolk, Doing Better by Children with Behaviour Difficulties, £1.7m Norfolk, Little Plumstead CE School, £2.1m

The Local Education Authorities (LEAs) involved are Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, City of Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk and Thurrock.

Ms Kelly said: "This funding is another big step towards our goal of ensuring that all young people are being taught in buildings that can enhance their learning and provide the facilities that they and their teachers need to reach their full potential."

She added: "Over the next 15 years, we will rebuild or refurbish every secondary school and at least half of all primary schools."

The funds will be delivered via the Targeted Capital Funding programme (TCF).