THE Portakabin Group has secured an £8.2m deal to rebuild crumbling schools.

The company says it will provide space for St Bede’s Church of England Junior School, in Woking, and Riverview Church of England Primary School, in Epsom, for the new academic year.

The contracts represent another boost for York-based Portakabin, which previously replaced classrooms at Woking’s Pyrford Primary School, after the site fell into disrepair, and delivered accommodation for Newman Catholic School, in Carlisle, which was devastated by flooding.

Bosses say their Surrey-bound space, part of a Government-backed redevelopment programme, will include classrooms, a sports hall, play areas and a dining room, adding it will cater for 240 pupils at St Bede’s and Riverview’s 210 youngsters.

Steve Newell, Portakabin Group general manager, revealed its buildings will be made in York, saying the move will cut construction time by half and hasten improvements to the most run-down schools.

He said: “We are absolutely delighted to be appointed main contractor for these two projects.

“The opportunity for off-site construction to help the Department for Education improve the standard of school buildings across the UK is immense, as these projects will demonstrate.

“Our aim is to deliver education facilities of the very highest standards, which are affordable, much faster to build, and that radically reduce disruption to teaching during construction.

“We are also making excellent use of architectural design and advanced construction technology to create fantastic new buildings for current and future generations.”

Mr Newell added once Portakabin’s new buildings are in place, the company will demolish the original school buildings.

Portakabin, which is part of the Shepherd Group, has extensive experience of education contracts, having previously revealed a £44m agreement to put together a three-school campus for the Riverside Schools project, in Barking and Dagenham, east London.

Providing space for more than 2,600 children, from nursery to sixth form ages, the site will use structures made in York.