- Appleby Grammar School in Penrith and The Border is one of 50 schools across England set to benefit from the Conservative Government’s £1 billion ten-year rebuilding programme.
- 500 schools are expected to be rebuilt over the next decade, delivering on the Conservative’s manifesto commitment to give every child access to a great school and world-class education.
- With construction for the first round to begin in autumn, these projects will create jobs, apprenticeships, and training opportunities around the country as we build back better.
Appleby Grammar School in Penrith and The Border has been selected as one of 50 establishments that will be rebuilt or repaired as part of the second round of the Conservative Government’s School Rebuilding Programme.
The ten year programme will provide the funding to transform 500 schools across England, delivering on the Government’s commitment to level up opportunity around the country by giving every child access to the best classrooms, wherever they go to school.
The School Rebuilding Programme is backed by at least £1 billion of government funding; helping to rebuild and repair of primary, secondary, and specialist schools, in addition to sixth form colleges around England.
The funding for Appleby Grammar School will help to deliver modern learning environments for pupils, including options such as new classrooms, science labs, sports halls, and dining halls. The majority of the projects are set to be completed in three to five years.
As well as delivering world-class learning environments for pupils, the School Rebuilding Programme will also create opportunities, jobs, and apprenticeships - from the construction industry to suppliers, businesses will be offering training as part of their involvement in the projects.
Alongside this announcement, the Conservative Government has also confirmed that from 2022-23, per pupil funding will increase to an average of £6,150 per secondary school pupil and £4,800 per primary school pupil – as part of the increase in school funding next year, and on top of the £3 billion already committed for catch up learning as a result of the pandemic.
For pupils in the North West this means average funding will increase to £5,647, a per pupil funding boost of £145 compared to current levels.
These announcements build on the Prime Minister's landmark levelling up speech delivered on Thursday 15 July - in which he set out how investing in education will help to create a better quality of life for people in every part of the UK, so everyone can access the opportunities they need to succeed regardless of their background or where they grow up.
Commenting, Dr Hudson said:
“Every child deserves to learn in a world-class school, so they can get a good education and the best possible start in life. We have great schools in Penrith and The Border but we can always work to improve them where we can.
“This extra funding to help rebuild Appleby Grammar School will deliver that for pupils locally – giving them the best possible learning environment so they can focus on what really matters, their education and building for their future.
“At the election I said I wanted to work with government to fight for more investment in our schools and our young folk’s future – and this funding shows we are delivering on that for the people of Penrith and The Border. There is still much to do, and I will continue to take the call to Westminster to invest further in our schools here in Penrith and The Border”.
Commenting, 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”.
