Expulsion for Temporary Classrooms as £48 Million Schools Investment Programme Confirmed

Bedford Borough Schools have received another major boost after a £48 million investment programme was approved by Mayor Dave Hodgson's Cabinet last week. The Schools Capital Investment Plan is part of Bedford Borough Council commitment under Mayor Dave to support schools to continue the remarkable recent progress locally in education, which includes confirmation that Bedford Borough is the best place in the country for a child to attend primary or lower school according to Ofsted gradings, for example, and a remarkable uplift in GCSE performance.

The School Capital Investment Plan sets out the Council's ambition to:

- Replace temporary classrooms and mobiles with brick-built buildings
- Get rid of makeshift temporary classrooms
- Ensure that there are enough school places for the future
- Make sure all school buildings are fit to learn in

Despite a national crisis in primary schools capacity, Bedford Borough's School Capital Investment Plan not only ensures sufficient places for all children now and in future years, but will also see that those places are provided in schools with facilities that allow for high quality teaching and learning.

Commenting, Cllr Henry Vann, Liberal Democrat Portfolio Holder for Education at Bedford Borough Council, said: "Bedford is the best place in the country to go to lower or primary school. Over 90% of all our schools are ranked as good or outstanding by Ofsted. Our teachers, pupils and the communities behind them need buildings that are fit to learn in; this plan will get rid of the makeshift temporary classrooms of the past and deliver sufficient capacity for the future.'

"This investment shows how committed we are in ensuring that all of our children and young people have access to the highest quality of teaching and learning, and have the best start in life."

The School Capital Investment Plan continues the extensive investment in excellent teaching and learning space delivered under Mayor Dave. This has included the construction and opening of three brand new 420 place Primary Schools and the expansion and upgrading of many more.