PROPOSALS for £31m of investment in school and nursery buildings across Stockton will be considered by councillors next week.

Stockton Borough Council has secured the fourth highest ‘basic need’ funding allocation in the UK, and a series of investment proposals are to be considered by the authority’s Cabinet on Thursday.

They include the expansion of Northfield School and Sports College, Our Lady and St Bede’s Catholic Academy, Bishopsgarth School, Ian Ramsey CE Academy and All Saints CE Academy.

It is also proposed that the council works with Egglescliffe School to bring forward a much-needed rebuild.

The council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Ann McCoy, said: “We want all of our children and young people to be educated in modern, inspirational buildings designed to best support their learning, and this comes at a time when the borough’s pupils are celebrating record GCSE results.

“While the majority of our secondary schools are in good condition and have benefited from significant investment and expansion in recent years, we know pupil numbers are set to grow further, so we’re delighted that our hard work has secured this much-needed funding. Initial discussions with schools have been very positive”

Cabinet will also consider plans to address a shortage of nursery places as well as a proposal to expand the council’s Pupil Referral Unit at Marsh House Avenue in Billingham. If agreed, detailed consultation will be undertaken and officers will draw-up a full plan, with costs, for consideration by Cabinet early next year.