A GROUP of Hampshire schools have been given some good news to cheer them through the winter.

Four of the county’s schools will receive a boost of £10m for refurbishments, including Oliver’s Battery Primary.

Hampshire County Council Leader has welcomed a £10m funding boost to modernise four Hampshire schools.

At his latest Decision Day meeting, Cllr Roy Perry congratulated the county council’s Children’s and Property Services for successfully securing funding from the Government’s Education Funding Agency to reclad and refurbish school buildings built in the 1960s.

The schools which will benefit include: l Oliver’s Battery Primary School – £2m l Overton CofE Primary School, Basingstoke – £3m l Talavera Infant School, Aldershot – £2.48m l Wootey Junior School, Alton – £2.27m Fey Wood, headteacher of Oliver’s Battery Primary School said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Oliver’s Battery Primary School will be undergoing such an extensive renovation. The improvement to the learning environment will build on the great education and amazing opportunities that we offer all of the children. The children are already talking about what colours and designs they would like – we can’t wait for the building to start.”

The schools have said that the money will be spent on re-cladding the outside of the building, new double glazed windows and a new roof. The building will also be insulated which will make the building much more energy efficient. Inside there will be new flooring, ceilings and lighting and the building will be redecorated throughout.

Nicola Duffield, chair, Oliver’s Battery Primary School Governing Body said: “We are so excited to hear of the extent of the work to be carried out. This will give the children an even better learning environment; the children and staff deserve nothing less. The school continues to go from strength to strength.”

The leader of Hampshire County Council Roy Perry said: “Securing this major investment from the Government is welcome news for pupils, teachers and parents. While structurally sound, the buildings at these four schools are in need of work, with poor insulation and relatively high energy costs. Recladding the buildings will not only reduce energy costs and help protect the environment, but will also extend the life of the buildings, making them more sustainable and delivering the best value for money for taxpayers.”

Councillor Peter Edgar, Executive Member for Education, added: “This investment is very important as the quality of school buildings is a significant contributor to the success of a child’s learning. These reclad buildings will create brighter, modern-looking and inspiring buildings for pupils to thrive and succeed in, in the future.”

The schools will be reclad with a new energy efficient insulated ‘envelope’, which the county council already used successfully in over 30 Hampshire school buildings. Recladding the schools extends the life of the buildings at a fraction of the cost of constructing new schools.