EDUCATION Secretary David Blunkett today announced more than 6.7m to pay for repairs at Oxfordshire schools.

Examples of projects it could fund include replacing temporary classrooms, roof repairs and buying new windows, heating systems and toilets.

The funding is part of 600m set aside nationwide in the fourth phase of payouts from the Government's New Deal for Schools.

It will be spent on projects during 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Mr Blunkett said: "We are determined to improve the quality of the environment in which teachers teach and pupils learn, and address the scandal of crumbling schools.

"I know that parents, teachers and pupils will welcome this investment which will bring schools into a modern and fit state to support higher standards of education.

"I am confident that the New Deal for Schools, along with our other capital programmes, will make a big dent in the backlog that has developed over the last 20 years and help our schools make a strong start in the 21st century."

Story date: Tuesday 11 April

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