Second Round of Rebuilding Schools Launched

Thousands of pupils in England are to benefit from new, modern and energy-efficient school buildings as another 50 schools have been confirmed as joining the Prime Minister’s ten-year rebuilding programme, to level up opportunities for all.

The rebuilding and refurbishments will create modern classrooms and education environments, and will provide new facilities from science labs, sports halls and dining rooms. The new school buildings will be net-zero carbon in operation, helping to meet the Government’s net zero target.

The 50 projects announced brings the total number of schools being upgraded to 100. The School Rebuilding Programme is due to deliver 500 rebuilding projects over the next decade, which will benefit tens of thousands of pupils in their lifetime.

The schools being upgraded and rebuilt in this round include primary, secondary and special and alternative provisions schools, levelling up opportunities across the country. The Government also confirmed another core funding boost for schools via the National Funding Formula. Each pupil is set to benefit from the largest funding increase in a decade as part of a £14.4 billion funding increase, first announced in 2019.

This will mean a £4.8 billion increase to school funding in the next academic year, and £7.1 billion in 2022-23. This is in addition to the three major interventions we have made to support education recovery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – over £3 billion in total.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “The environment children are taught in makes such an enormous difference to their education.

“This programme will give thousands more young people the chance to learn in world class school facilities, levelling up opportunity and making sure every young person has the chance to succeed, progress and fulfil their potential.

“As we build back better after the pandemic, with buildings that are net-zero in operation, this major ten-year rebuilding programme will help to shape the education of not only children now, but for years to come.”

Ms Helena Mills CBE, CEO of BMAT EDUCATION, said: “We are delighted that Burnt Mill Academy has been chosen as one of the next 50 schools to be rebuilt through the Department for Education’s Schools Rebuilding Programme.

“This is fantastic news for our pupils, staff and the wider community in Harlow. This much-needed investment, in an area of high deprivation, will enable all of our children to learn in modern purpose-built school designed for 21st century learning.”

Funding for individual projects in the School Rebuilding programme will be determined when the scope and delivery plans at each school are developed. Projects will range from replacing or refurbishing individual buildings through to whole school rebuilds.

The most advanced projects from the first round of the programme will begin construction in autumn 2021. The programme will help to create jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities across England, with suppliers offering training and apprenticeships as part of their work on the projects.

The majority of the confirmed projects are expected to complete within three to five years.

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