Pupils in Southampton Itchen are set to benefit from essential maintenance fixes being rolled out in schools across the country thanks to the Labour government, with up to £463,000 being invested in schools across Southampton and Hampshire, through the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF).
Children at Hightown Primary School will benefit from a share of £470 million for projects in education and healthcare settings, set to fix crumbling roofs and remove dangerous asbestos – restoring pride in England’s classrooms and undoing years of dangerous Conservative neglect.
The funding is part of Labour’s mission to fix the dire state of public services inherited from the Conservatives and deliver investment and reform through the Plan for Change, supporting children to get the best start in life.
It is part of a record £2.1 billion investment into the school estate this year – £300m more than the previous year – as Labour forges on with delivering for the public by investing in our children, their futures, and the future of this country.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:
“The defining image of the school estate under the previous government was children sitting under steel props to stop crumbling concrete falling on their heads. It simply isn’t good enough.
Parents expect their children to learn in a safe warm environment. It’s what children deserve, and it is what we are delivering.
This investment is about more than just buildings – it’s about showing children that their education matters, their futures matter, and this government is determined to give them the best possible start in life.”
MP for Southampton Itchen, Darren Paffey, said:
“Parents across Southampton Itchen will remember the terror of the RAAC crisis, the fear that children were no longer safe in their own school because of years of Tory neglect.
Labour is turning the page through our Plan for Change, literally fixing the foundations of our schools so local children are in a safe environment where they can achieve and thrive.
With free breakfast clubs, cheaper uniform costs and safer schools, Labour is setting children up for the best start.”
Labour’s investment will deliver energy efficient, warm classrooms with safe outdoor spaces that are not just fit for lessons, but for the future — creating a welcoming and supportive school environment for generations of children so they can achieve and thrive as they progress through their education.
A further £1.4 billion will back the acceleration of the School Rebuilding Programme this year, with a commitment to kickstart projects at 100 schools this year alone, as Labour seeks to fix the foundations of our school estate.
Rejuvenating schools by delivering new, high-quality buildings that are not just energy efficient but fit for all pupils’ needs. This will provide high-tech facilities that will raise the standards of education through new sports halls, IT rooms, school kitchens and playgrounds that children and staff can enjoy for years to come.
Projects will be delivered during the 2025 to 2026 financial year, with the first upgrades expected to begin this summer.
ENDS