SCHOOLS in North Yorkshire will have £51 million spent on them over the next three years, improving the condition of their buildings.

The cash has come through a number of Government allocations for maintenance, improvements and new buildings.

North Yorkshire County Council’s capital allocation for maintenance and improvements this year amounts to £13.2 million – £2 million more than last year. Including the money that is devolved directly to schools.

This figure amounts to just over £17 million, with a similar amount for the following two years.

As previously reported in The Press two schools, Barlby High School, near Selby, and Willow Tree Primary, in Harrogate, have also been included in a programme for replacement buildings through the government’s £2 billion Priority Schools Programme, though the authority had actually bid for eight replacement schools.

The authority has also received additional capital funding of nearly £600,000 to support the delivery of universal infant free school meals.

This means that North Yorkshire is able to refurbish a further three school kitchens in need of renovation.

In a separate announcement, the county council was also allocated a further £1 million for the provision of additional school places in 2017/18 supporting an allocation of £40 million announced last year.