Vulnerable and disadvantaged students could benefit from improvements to Sutton schools if the Government gives the green light to funding.
Sutton Council has bid £3m from its own budget in an attempt to attract a further £80m from central Government, which would also increase the school places in deprived areas.
The council is seeking the cash under the Government’s national programme to rebuild or renew nearly every secondary school in England.
If successful, the money will go on five priority schools – Carshalton High School for Girls, Carshalton Boys’ Sports College and pupil referral unit the Limes College.
It would also include the Hospital Tuition Service at the Drapers Centre, and Wandle Valley School, which is a special school for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Executive member Tony Brett Young said a large scale investment would improve the condition of current school buildings and help improve provision for the borough’s most vulnerable young people.
He said: “This is a massive programme which will make a huge difference to education in Sutton particularly for our most vulnerable young people.
“We know the Government is struggling to balance its books, but the Liberal Democrats in Sutton are determined to get the best deal for local families.”
Sutton Council’s bid was approved by executive members at a meeting on Monday night.
Councillors considered a financial risk in undertaking the bid, but ruled that, in a depressed financial economy, a major building programme in Sutton’s most deprived areas and communities may also have wider, supportive implications for the borough.
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