A share of £456 million has been awarded to five Watford schools as part of the government's 'Condition Improvement Fund'.

Beechfield School, Holy Rood Catholic Primary School, Parmiter's School, Watford Grammar School for Girls and Cherry Tree Primary School are among the beneficiaries nationwide.

Watford Observer: Beechfield School is one of the schools set to receive funding.Beechfield School is one of the schools set to receive funding.

There are 859 academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary-aided schools that have been awarded funding from the pot, which has been created to help refurbish and repair school buildings.

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The funding aims to ensure that "pupils can learn in safe, warm and energy efficient classrooms", with the government committing £1.8 billion to that end in the 2023/24 financial year.

Over 1,000 school building improvement projects will be given the go-ahead as a result of the announcement.

Watford Observer: Holy Rood Catholic Primary School, on Greenbank Road.Holy Rood Catholic Primary School, on Greenbank Road. (Image: Google Maps)

The specific amounts of funding awarded to each of the Watford schools have not yet been announced, Watford MP Dean Russell said.

However, a spokesperson for Holy Rood said confirmed its application for Capital Improvement Funding had been successful and it has been awarded £156k, which will be used for "urgent safety and security works".

                                                                                            

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This will include new fencing, gates and CCTV, they added.

A spokesperson for Watford Grammer School for Girls also confirmed that they had been successful in one of two bids made this year.

The funding will allow the school to upgrade its existing fire safety doors.

Along with praising the town's "fantastic teachers, school leaders and support staff", the MP also noted the positive impact that the funding will have on the environment.

Watford Observer: Parmiter's School, on High Elm's Lane.Parmiter's School, on High Elm's Lane. (Image: Google Maps)

He said: "What's so important about this is that actually it's not only helping repairs and refurbishments, but also helping in terms of energy efficiency, helping the country reach its net zero target."

Watford Observer: Watford Grammer School for Girls, on Ladys Close.Watford Grammer School for Girls, on Ladys Close. (Image: Google Maps)

Baroness Diana Barran, the government's minister for the school system, added: "It’s hugely important that every school has access to high-quality learning facilities and these funding allocations will make sure that responsible bodies can start to plan ahead and get projects started to replace roofs, boilers and windows – so pupils and teachers can learn and work in a comfortable space."

Watford Observer: Cherry Tree Primary School, on Berry Avenue.Cherry Tree Primary School, on Berry Avenue.