Seven County Durham schools to benefit from building upgrades

We have successfully applied to the government's School Rebuilding Programme, after the Department for Education (DfE) invited local authorities from across the country to submit bids for schools which are in need of refurbishment.

The schools included in the latest announcement by the DfE are Bournmoor Primary School, Browney Primary Academy, Durham Community Business College for Technology and Enterprise, Hesleden Primary School, Lanchester Endowed Parochial Primary School, Leadgate Primary School and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Primary School, Esh Winning.

We will be working closely with the DfE and the schools to deliver the programme, which carries out major rebuilding and refurbishment projects at school and sixth-form college buildings across England.

Modern upgrades

The new buildings will be more energy efficient for future winter resilience and have net zero carbon in operation, helping meet the council and the government's net zero targets. It will also see old facilities replaced by modern education environments, ranging from new classrooms to sports halls and dining rooms.

It is hoped that the refurbishments will ensure that high educational standards for pupils across the county are maintained for decades to come.

Cllr Ted Henderson, our Cabinet member for children and young people's services, said: "This marks a wonderful opportunity for our children, teachers and support staff to work in a much deserved, wonderful new learning environment. 

"These schools will provide a sustainable and secure future for their communities and will inspire all the pupils who attend."

The new projects build on those that were announced earlier in the year, which included Ferryhill Station Primary School, Framwellgate School and St Leonard's Catholic School.

Nationally, the School Rebuilding Programme, which was launched last year, will see 500 schools across the country partially or fully rebuilt over a ten-year period.