NORTH Yorkshire County Council recently received Government approval for plans to invest millions of pounds of extra funding in primary education across the county.

It is a boost to our determination to ensure that our schools are able to meet the needs of children and their families across this rural county and fit to deliver a 21st century curriculum

John Watson - NORTH Yorkshire County Council

The authority is due to receive a £12 million funding boost for its primary schools between 2009 and 2011 with a further £3.7 million for each of the following 12 years as part of the Government's 14-year primary capital strategy.

This cash injection is designed to bring the country's primary school building stock into line with the demands of a 21st century curriculum with a particular focus on rebuilding or substantially renovating schools, particularly in deprived urban areas as well as addressing surplus places and standards.

To be eligible for this money North Yorkshire County Council had to submit a "Strategy for Change" and has heard today that it will receive its earmarked Primary Capital funding for 2009/10 and the go-ahead to further develop its plans for future years.

As England's largest rural county with 325 schools, many of which are small schools in sparsely populated areas, North Yorkshire County Council aims to deliver a capital strategy which addresses the needs of both its rural as well as urban primary schools. North Yorkshire is one of 133 authorities to get the green light to create a new generation of primary schools with a release of £1.75 billion from central Government, matched by funding from local authorities themselves.

Cynthia Welbourn, North Yorkshire's director of Children and Young People's Services said: "We are delighted with today's news and welcome this investment as a means of helping us to deliver excellent education for all our children. It will give us the opportunity to improve facilities and prospects for schools which face the biggest challenges from deprivation, lower attainment or viability."

County Councillor John Watson, executive member for schools said: "This is very good news indeed for North Yorkshire. It is a boost to our determination to ensure that our schools are able to meet the needs of children and their families across this rural county and fit to deliver a 21st century curriculum."