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School Buildings (Alnwick)

It gives me pleasure to reply to this debate on behalf of my hon. Friend the Minister for Schools and Learners. I will return to the point about a visit to the constituency of the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith). I congratulate him on securing this debate and on raising this important topic again. I have no quibble with him. As he has rightly said, and as I know from his speeches in the House, he is absolutely committed to ensuring the highest standards for the schools in his constituency. The Government share that ambition. Like him, we believe that all pupils should have access to a truly world-class education in truly world-class schools, and I shall return to the points that he has raised. As he acknowledged, that is why the Government have undertaken an unprecedented programme of investment in our schools through, for example, Building Schools for the Future, the biggest Government investment in school buildings for five decades. As he has said, one of the schools in his constituency was built during the previous period. We are now trying to catch up after that time of no action. Last year, tens of thousands of pupils started term in new buildings or new schools. The number of new or refurbished schools is at its highest in at least 30 years. More than 20 of those schools came through Building Schools for the Future. In total, 78 BSF schools are now open. Local authorities have reached a financial close on a further 35 deals covering BSF projects, and contracts have been signed to a value of more than £3.5 billion. In addition, almost 1,000 secondary schools are developing plans for modernisation, with around 115 new or remodelled schools anticipated to open in 2009-10 and 200 in 2011-12. After decades of under-investment in school buildings, we are saying to children that their learning environment matters and that their future is worth investing in. Over the next 15 to 20 years, BSF will help to improve the life chances of more than 3 million young people. I know that the right hon. Gentleman recognises that it is not just important to make finance available, because it takes time to move through every single school and piece of estate in this country. The right hon. Gentleman mentioned the Duchess's community high school. It has some temporary classrooms, and many of its buildings date back to the '60s or even before. Suitability data for the school show some shortcomings, to which he has referred, but they also suggest that the classrooms are in fair condition. Maybe they are not in the condition to which all of us would aspire, but they are certainly in fair condition. Likewise, Berwick high school's buildings are generally in fair to good condition, and no significant shortcomings were identified in that school through the suitability study. Most of the right hon. Gentleman's comments concerned the Duchess's school, which remains strong, has good GCSE results and has successfully introduced post-16 provision. The school was also a pilot for the extended schools programme, which helps place schools at the heart of their communities. Again, as he has said, that is supported by the local community. Although the previous Minister for Schools and Learners hoped to visit the right hon. Gentleman's constituency, he moved to another post in government before that was possible. However, the new Minister for Schools and Learners is enthusiastically planning a visit as soon as his diary allows. I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will want to accompany him, so it will be necessary to bring the diaries together. As he has said, the school has enormous strengths. Sadly, it will have to draw on those over the coming months, because it has recently been struck by tragic events. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, it is for the local authority to set the priorities for BSF funding in Northumberland. The Government cannot and should not dictate those priorities from Whitehall. I know that he is a passionate supporter of such devolved responsibility. Northumberland has revised its expression of interest in BSF funding. Bedlingtonshire community high school, Ashington high school and St. Benet Biscop Roman Catholic high school were prioritised by the local authority on the basis of local deprivation and educational achievement. As with all BSF projects, Northumberland's first priority project has been assessed against social and educational need. That is done to prevent the most vulnerable children from falling behind their peers, and I know that the right hon. Gentleman supports that aspiration. Unfortunately, not all schools can benefit at the same time. However, I am pleased to say that three schools in his constituency—Berwick high school, Coquet high school and the Duchess's school—have been chosen to form Northumberland's next BSF project. He will be able to discuss that with those who are responsible locally and with the Minister for Schools and Learners during his visit. There has already been significant capital investment in Northumberland's schools that is not linked to BSF, and more is being provided. The county will receive more than £65 million in capital grants and supported borrowing between the past financial year and 2010-11. More than £16 million of that money is being invested in the modernisation of school buildings and the primary capital programme. A further £23 million will be invested in the devolved capital formula, which is allocated to schools for investment in their own capital priorities. As an unmodernised secondary school, the Duchess's school will receive £18,500 plus £94 per pupil per year. The level of per pupil funding in the right hon. Gentleman's constituency should be compared with the national average. The latest figures for this year show that Northumberland receives £3,850 per pupil, which is a significant increase in real terms compared with 1997, although it is slightly below the national average of £4,218. As he has suggested, the main reason for that difference is that finance is targeted at areas with more disadvantaged pupils or a more sparsely distributed population. We must ensure that smaller rural primary schools, which are more expensive to run, are supported. Northumberland receives £3.3 million through that grant allocation.