Rundown primary schools in Bradford are to be transformed into state-of-the-art facilities, thanks to a £6.5 million new cash injection, schools minister Jim Knight said today.

Bradford is one of 23 local authorities in England chosen to share £150 million from the Primary Capital Programme in 2008-09.

The Government has earmarked the district's primaries as part of plans to transform ageing primary schools and raise standards nationwide.

Mr Knight said: "I congratulate Bradford for being selected as a pathfinder for the Primary Capital Programme. It has been chosen because of its strategic vision and track record in delivering high quality, innovative school buildings.

"It now has the chance to lead the way for every other local authority in England. We are sweeping away the legacy of decades of under investment and the primary capital programme represents a significant commitment to our children's future."

Councillor Dale Smith (Cons, Wharfedale), Bradford Council's executive member for children's services and education, said: "I am delighted. We are very pleased that the Government continues to support education in Bradford. We shall be drawing up plans and priorities in the near future. It is too early at this stage to say which schools will benefit from the funding. However, I am sure many schools will be clamouring to be at the top of the list."

Coun Phil Thornton (Lab, Windhill and Wrose), chairman of the council's young people and improvement education committee, said: "This is good news. We have highlighted on a number of occasions the shortfalls that exist in funding for the district's primary schools.

"There are significant areas of concern. This money will be targeted towards the worst cases."

However, Ian Murch, Bradford branch secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said the funding was a "drop in the ocean" compared to the figure required. He said: "This is simply not enough. We need money for two things: to replace and refurbish old primary school buildings and to deal with the influx of new pupils coming into the system. £6.5 million will not deal with that."

As previously reported in the Telegraph & Argus, a teaching union source, who did not wish to be identified, claimed several primary schools were threatened by significant lack of investment in building maintenance.

The source named the primary schools in greatest need of building work as: Barkerend in Hendford Drive, Pollard Park, Bradford; Usher Street, off Wakefield Road, Bradford; Crossley Hall, Thornton Road, Fairweather Green; Priestthorpe, Mornington Road, Bingley; and Guard House in School Road, Guard House, Keighley.

e-mail: dan.webber@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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