Government ministers have approved Shropshire’s primary school strategy – releasing £8.45 million to the new unitary council.

The money will mostly be spent on capital projects over the next two years at the seven pairs of schools which will merge from next September.

Over the following 12 years from 2011, the council expects to receive a further £25 million to improve funding for primary school buildings over this time.

An initial bid was submitted by the county council in August last year, but the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) asked for more details.

The council found that it was one of only 15 authorities, out of 148 in England, not approved to receive a share from a £3.55 billion fund.

A fresh application was made in January.

Ann Hartley, county council portfolio holder for children’s services, said: “I’m delighted that ministers have approved the initial phase of our strategic plan for our primary schools.

Investment

“The injection of funding which goes along with this announcement will make a substantial difference to the quality of accommodation for many children in the short and medium term.”

Liz Nicholson, director of children and young people’s services, added: “This approval acknowledges that we have a sound basis on which to continue to support school improvement and provides much needed investment in our schools.”

The seven amalgamated schools which will benefit from the funding are:

• Bishop Hooper CE Foundation School (formed from Ashford Carbonel and Caynham schools)
• Bayston Hill CE School (Oakland and Longmeadow primaries)
• Meole Brace CE Primary (Meole Brace Infant and Junior Schools)
• Mereside CE Primary School (Holy Cross Junior and Springfield Infant Schools)
• Mount Pleasant Primary School (Mount Pleasant Infant and Junior Schools)
• Grange Primary School (Grange Infant and Junior Schools)
• Holy Trinity CE Primary School (Oswestry Infant and Beech Grove Junior Schools)

By Dave Morris