School buildings benefit from massive investment

Councillor Keith Mans, who in charge of children’s services, and Councillor Peter Edgar, in charge of education for Hampshire, toured a number of schools in the west of the county, including Locks Heath Infants and Junior schools.

The new facilities at the infants’ school include three new classrooms which have replaced temporary buildings, improved staff accommodation, an extended reception years play area, an enlarged accessible toilet and a canopied pathway.

The extension to Locks Heath Junior School includes four new classrooms, a multi-use space, toilet facilities and an existing courtyard infill to create a new learning hub.

The works also included the refurbishment of two existing classrooms and external works to provide new hard play facilities and landscape improvements.

The total investment across the Locks Heath schools was £3.2m.

Cllr Mans said: ‘I’m thrilled to be able to see first-hand how our multi-million pound investment programme for schools is making a difference.

‘I am extremely impressed with the new facilities, which are a testament to the hard work of the school community and our staff in children’s services and property services.

‘From speaking to staff and pupils, I know such modern and well-designed buildings have provided an inspiring place to learn.’

The schools are part of a major capital investment programme by Hampshire County Council’s Children’s Services Department, which delivered more than 6,300 new school places between 2013 and 2016.

The current programme represents a £308m investment to deliver a further 11,000 new school places, across the county, by 2019.

n Would you like to contribute to our community pages? Would you like to write a community column? Then e-mail The News at [email protected].