BLACKBURN with Darwen Council is planning to spend millions of pounds improving the borough’s schools over the next financial year.

From a £5.1 million budget for 2019/20, the council has already allocated £3.2 million to various projects with the major spend planned at St Barnabas & St Paul's Primary School in Blackburn where £682,000 will be spent on extending classrooms and enlarging the school site.

Council bosses say the school currently has several small classrooms that are below the recommended guidelines.

They will also transfer the adjacent play area onto the school site to provide additional play space for the school and safeguarding management.

Meanwhile, bosses are planning to install a new £450,000 heating system at Audley infant and junior schools, as well as repairs to the damaged roof at Audley Junior School to the tune of £266,000.

The current system serves both schools on a single pipe system, with antiquated equipment and a lack of temperature control, resulting in extreme temperature variations between areas.

The junior school roof covering is failing with evidence of water leaks, loose slates and tiles, and saturated brickwork to parapet walls.

Water leaks and damp are causing damage to internal surfaces and structure.

Audley Infant School will also have the reception area remodelled as well as its main hall refurbished in a £220,000 scheme.

The spending is detailed in the council’s annual schools capital programme, which is set to be approved at an executive board meeting next week.

Executive member for children, young people and education, Cllr Maureen Bateson, said: “The capital programme compiled for 2019/ 2020 reflects needs which have been identified through each school’s asset management plan.

“Officers from the Building Consultancy Team have visited schools to discuss priorities with schools and ensure AMPs accurately reflect the needs of the school.

“In line with previous years, schools benefitting from the programme will be expected to contribute to any capital works from either devolved formula capital (DFC), or school reserves. A contribution is required to ensure that the school condition allocation funding is spread as far as possible and used in schools that have a commitment to working in partnership with the council to improve their school buildings.

"Typically, schools are asked to contribute 10% of the total cost of the scheme."

Minor projects will also be carried out.