Claire Coutinho today welcomed the announcement that five schools in East Surrey will benefit from funding to improve school facilities.
The Government has announced an additional £434 million investment to expand classrooms, upgrade facilities and improve the education of children across the whole country.
This funding will ensure schools have well-maintained facilities to provide students with safe environments that support a high-quality education. It is part of the £1.4 billion of capital funding for 2020-21 announced in April and is provided through the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF).
Five schools in East Surrey will directly benefit from the funding. These include Hamsey Green Primary, Woodlea Primary School, Warlingham School, Bletchingley Village Primary School and St Stephen's CofE Primary School.
Claire Coutinho, MP for East Surrey, welcomed the additional funding: “We must do all we can to ensure learning losses are at a minimum. Since 2011 we’ve been successfully closing the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers.”
“School closures will likely reverse that progress as lockdown learning has varied widely between children – with estimates indicating it could grow to as much as 36%. This attainment gap will have a lifelong effect on this generation’s skills & therefore their ability to earn. It will also hit the overall health of the economy from 2030 onwards if our labour market has poorer skills.
“The Prime Minister has already announced a £1bn catch up tutoring fund - to ensure that no child is left behind as a result of the lockdown. But even with this support it is important that we get children back into schools as soon as possible. This additional funding will help ensure schools have the facilities and classrooms they need to support the high-quality education our children deserve.”
Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson said:
“My number-one focus will always be to make sure every student has access to excellent education and training.
“Replacing and upgrading poor condition school and college buildings with modern, energy efficient designs will give our students and teachers the environment they deserve, and support them to maximise their potential.
“As we look forward to this September and all children returning to school, we can be assured that for years to come this country’s education system will drive opportunity and prosperity for all.”
