Six Nottingham primary schools are among the first to receive £11.2million of Government funding – part of the Government’s Primary Capital Programme designed to rebuild, remodel or refurbish half of all primary schools in the UK.

Blue Bell Hill, Sycamore and St Ann’s Well Primary Schools in St Ann’s, Greenfields Primary in The Meadows, and Henry Whipple and Robin Hood Primary Schools in Bestwood Park, will get funding. The schools and the City Council will consult with parents, school governors and teachers over the next 12 months on how the money should be spent. Work is due to start next summer (2009) and be completed by 2011.

Nottingham is one of 23 Pathfinder councils selected by the Government ahead of the national roll out of the Primary Capital Programme after putting together a plan to improve primary education in the City. The first announcement was made last year, involving the rebuilding of the split-site Victorian Southwark Primary School in Basford at a cost of £13.1million - £6.5 million from the Government and £6.6 million from the City Council.

Nottingham City Council will approve Nottingham’s three year £11.2 million Primary Capital Programme at its Executive Board meeting next Tuesday. (April 22). Funding is expected to continue at a similar level for 14 years.

Councillor Jane Urquhart, City Council Portfolio holder for Children’s Services, said the investment was a great opportunity for the City in its drive to transform school buildings, teaching and learning environments and education attainment, and to encourage community use of schools

"The City Council has already done a lot of work developing the best design ideas for 21st century primary education for schools like Southwark, and new schools like Ambleside and Rosslyn Primaries in Aspley, and from the refurbishment and remodelling we have done as part of the Council’s primary school re-organisation. This is a great opportunity to bring more benefits to pupils at the earliest possible stage of their education and help give them the best start "