IMPROVEMENT projects at two Kidderminster schools have been given the green light after funds were made available by government.

King Charles I and Foley Park Primary are among 580 school building projects set to receive a share of £560 million announced by the Prime Minister last month to help the nation bounce back from the pandemic by investing in schools to help teachers deliver a high standard of education and create jobs.

The funding will allow King Charles I School to replace electrical switch gear and a distribution board, while Foley Park's cash boost will pay for fire reform works.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson said: “As we work towards all children returning to school in September, this investment in our school and college buildings helps create modern environments that lend themselves to great teaching, making sure every child has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

“We have worked at great speed to release this additional £560 million of condition funding to schools for projects this year to kick-start the economy and transform the buildings so vital for excellent teaching.

“We have now allocated over £2 billion this year to improve the condition of our school buildings, paving the way for our new transformative ten-year school building programme starting later this year with over £1 billion funding for the first wave of 50 schools.”

The 580 building projects will share £180 million in funding and the remainder of the £560 million will go to local authorities, larger multi-academy trusts and large voluntary-aided school bodies to spend on improving the condition of their schools.

These building projects will be more environmentally-friendly and employ the latest construction methods – creating highly skilled jobs and providing a boost for the construction sector.