The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Extra cash for school buildings

08/09/2006

An additional £30 million is to be invested in improving school buildings, it was announced today.

The cash will fund:

• Energy efficiency measures such as improved heating, better insulation, solar panels and wind power

• Spruced up canteens to encourage more pupils to eat healthy school meals

• Cashless payment systems for canteens which provide anonymity for those pupils eligible for free school meals, thereby encouraging more to take them

• Enhanced sports facilities and playgrounds.

The extra cash will be added to the Schools Fund bringing the total available in the Fund this year to £131 million, helping councils accelerate improvements to their schools.

At Castleton Primary School in Castlemilk, Glasgow, Education Minister Peter Peacock said:

"Pupils and teachers deserve to learn and teach in 21st century schools. The new generation of PPP-funded schools are transforming crumbling classrooms into modern 21st century schools and offering some of the most advanced learning environments in the world. This extra money will help upgrade and modernise facilities in our other schools.

"Today's money comes with a clear focus on sustainable development and health improvement - two of this Government's biggest priorities, alongside education.

"Energy efficient schools can play their part in helping our environment. And there is a knock-on benefit for schools themselves. Recent hikes in energy prices mean an additional squeeze on the extra resources being ploughed into education.

"By giving Councils more money towards helping to tackle the most energy inefficient school buildings, our schools will be able to concentrate their devolved spending better on books and equipment.

"The extra cash will also encourage healthier lifestyles among pupils. Our Hungry for Success programme has revolutionised our school meals and we now need to do all we can to encourage as many pupils as possible to stay in school at lunchtime and take them.

"And by improving sports facilities and playgrounds, we can get more pupils to do more physical activity and develop healthy habits that will stay with them for the rest of their lives."

SCHOOLS FUND

REVISED CAPITAL GRANT DISTRIBUTION - 2006-07

The Schools Fund provides capital grant funding to councils for the maintenance and refurbishment of school buildings.

This year's £131.35 million grant represents around a five-fold increase over the £26.7 million of capital grant which was made available only four years ago, in 2002-03.

Over £2.3 billion is also being invested in transforming Scotland's schools through the PPP (Public Private Partnership) programme.