17 March 2001

SCHOOLS TO SHARE IN CASH BONANZA

SCHOOLS in the borough are set to benefit from a share of a massive £620m cash boost being offered by the Government.

The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is allocating the huge sum of money to a total of 170 schools nationally, including £47m earmarked for North and South Tyneside.
The cash can be used for a wide range of projects including building new schools, sports and IT facilities and carrying out renovations in primary, secondary and special-needs schools.
Brinkburn Comprehensive, Boldon School, Harton School and Whitburn School have all been named as schools who will receive a share of £14m.
Ian Tunnicliffe, Headteacher at Harton School in Lisle Road, South Shields, hopes to make the most of the cash by developing new sports facilities.
He said: "The school has been in need of a new sports hall for the last 10 to 15 years.
"The plans have been ready for a long time, but we have had problems financing the scheme.
"It will cost somewhere near £1.9m. Hopefully, the PFI will provide the cash and the expertise to build and run a new development."
Paula Williams, Headteacher at Whitburn School, is keen to use the cash to build a new main building at the school in Nicholas Avenue, Whitburn.
Miss Williams said: "The old school building was built in the mid-1930s, and while it is a good building, it is very old and does not have the space to install things like computer rooms.
"A new building would have all these facilities already installed and ready to use."
A spokesman for the DFEE said: "The schools plans will be put out to tender by the LEA before the schools will be given the cash."