FOUR Whitby schools are set to benefit from multi-million pound investment over the next three years it has been announced.
East Whitby, Lythe, West Cliff and Whitby Community College have all been granted money from the Government’s capital projects allowance.
East Whitby will benefit the most as the Whitby Gazette has learnt it will get a £1m-plus redevelopment of th
e whole school.
Lythe will receive £230,000 for a new classroom for its nursery and a new hygiene room and West Cliff will get £100,00 to pay for a new external corridor.
The Community College has been boosted with £25,000 towards new access and ramps.
Although no figure has yet been agreed for East Whitby’s redevelopment Bernadette Jones, assistant director of Children and Young People’s Services for North Yorkshire County Council told the Whitby Gazette that the school was in line for over £1m for a complete project, though this figure could rise dramatically.
Headteacher Toby Mok said: “It is obviously a wonderful opportunity for the school.
“We are currently working with the bodies involved to cost the project and to ensure we get the best possible facilities for the children.
“It is important for Whitby to have a school on the east side of town and this will help move us forward.”
The current building dates back to the 1950s and the refurbishment would help the school further meets the needs of its pupils.
Andrea Foord, head at Lythe Primary School, said the money will make a big difference to her school.
She told the Whitby Gazette: “We have an old outdoor classroom for our very popular nursery group that was bought by the parents association second hand.
“This money will allow us to build a purpose built classroom attached to the school that will allow us to offer foundation stage teaching.
“At the same time we will have a new hygiene room built to minimise disruption. We have a number of children with disabilities and this room is something we need.
“Hopefully the work will be complete in the next two years.”
North Yorkshire’s schools will benefit from nearly £67m of funding for capital projects over the next three years.
County Councillor John Watson, executive member for schools said: “We are determined to ensure that our schools continue to meet the needs of children and their families across this rural county and develop the resources and facilities to deliver a world-class curriculum.”
The full article contains 419 words and appears in Whitby Gazette Tuesday newspaper.
