A multi-million pound boost for school repairs in Bradford has been announced today.

A total of £5.7 million will be spent on 19 schools throughout the district, thanks to New Deal for Schools Government cash.

The biggest sum - more than £1 million - will go to Tong Secondary in Bradford for refurbishment. The smallest sum is £40,305 for rewiring at Sacred Heart Primary in Ilkley.

The cash comes on top of the £171 million being spent on Bradford's schools reorganisation, which will see the current three-tier system of first, middle and upper schools replaced with a two-tier operation of primaries and secondaries.

The Local Education Authority applied for New Deal money to carry out repairs to about 50 schools in the district, with 19 attracting funding in this announcement.

Bradford's education director Diana Cavanagh said it was a tribute to the hard work by education officials who drew up the bids.

"A large number of our school buildings have been around a long time and need considerable work to bring them up to the standard we would like and this extra money will go a long way in helping us to achieve our aims."

Margaret Hall, head at Barkerend Primary School, which will receive £310,322 for roof repairs and new windows, said: "I have been here for 15 years and the windows were top of the list for replacement then!"

The final third of the roof would be repaired too.

Sue Greenwood, head teacher at Eldwick Primary, which will move into Gilstead Middle School and has won almost three-quarters of a million pounds for major repairs there, said: "That will make a huge difference."

Negotiations with the LEA were going on about when the school would move from its present site into the new location.

And Tina Briggs, acting head teacher at Buttershaw Primary School, which has been awarded £310,321 for roof and window repairs, said: "It's desperately needed. Under the reorganisation the school extension we are going to have, to cope with the full primary school, is wonderful and it seemed a shame that the other part of the school wasn't going to get anything. Now with this money it will be like a new school."

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