Torbay traditionally
invests in a mixture of fresh start projects and on-going property
improvements. This enables the council to deliver a programme
that address schools' buildings maintenance, ensures that there
are school places where they are needed and promotes improved
standards by widening opportunities for pupils.
The council has announced
its investment priorities for the 2008/09 which include some
new projects in addition to allocation of funding to complete
existing projects.
The existing projects
to benefit from investment include the projects to build new
schools at Torquay Community College and Foxhole Primary School,
new Children's Centres at Furzeham Primary School and Cockington,
new classrooms at Shiphay Primary School and a Learning Resource
Centre at Churston Grammar School.
New starts will be made
at Brixham CE Primary School, Sherwell Valley, Ellacombe, Curledge
Street and Roselands, all to provide new classrooms to replace
worn out accommodation. Match funding will be provided for an
artificial sports pitch at Paignton Community and Sports College
and a vocational centre at Combe Pafford School.
The full programme of
school investment now includes:
* £28m school rebuild
at Torquay Community College - work has started on site, due
to open in 2010
* New £8m primary
school at Foxhole, Paignton to replace existing infants and
junior schools - due to open in 2008
* Remodelling of Curledge
Street Primary School, including new classrooms and a Children's
Centre, £2.39m
* Over £1.2 m for
new classrooms and a Children's Centre at Cockington Primary
School
* £130k to match
fund improvements at Combe Pafford School
* £1.2m for new
classrooms and Children's Centre for Furzeham Primary School
* £800k for new
classrooms at Roselands Primary School to replace mobile classrooms
* £500k for new
classrooms at Ellacombe Primary School
* £800k for new
classrooms at Shiphay Primary School
* £1.29m for new
classrooms at Brixham CE Primary School
* Contribution to match
fund a bid to create a new artificial turf pitch at Paignton
Community and Sports College
* £1.62m remodelling
of Sherwell Valley School to replace old classrooms.
* Contribution of £750k
to Churston Ferrers Grammar School for the new learning resource
centre, library and science refurbishment.
In addition to these
major investments in new buildings, an ongoing programme of
maintenance will keep existing accommodation in good condition,
remove asbestos, improve access for disabled pupils, improve
school security and install lightning protection. Schools will
also be allocated significant sums of capital to carry out improvements
to meet their own priorities.
Cllr Anna Tolchard, Cabinet
Member for Children's Services said: "A great programme
of investment has gone into supporting quality education and
learning opportunities for Torbay's children and young people,
enabling them to fulfill their potential - whether that be academic,
sporting or through the wide range of vocational opportunities
now on offer.
"It is important
that we equip today's young people with tomorrow's skills and
expertise, and to do this we need to ensure our schools provide
a comprehensive range of resources and technology.
"Projects such as
Torquay Community College, Foxhole, Curledge Street, Furzeham
and Cockington all contain features that will also enhance wider
community usage of school buildings, therefore this investment
will not only benefit the pupils at the schools, but the wider
community as well.
"I look forward
to seeing these exciting projects take shape." |
