West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed extra funding for local schools confirmed in this week’s Budget. And Education Secretary Damian Hinds has also written to Harriett confirming that local primary and secondary schools will be able to access a £400 million fund for capital projects. The news will be great news for schools such as Hanley Castle High School, which is looking to carry out improvements to the school’s main hall. Several local head teachers have identified specific projects to Harriett, that they would like supporting, during her visits. The new fund is aimed at helping schools to fund smaller capital projects, and will mean around £10,000 for an average sized primary school and £50,000 for an average sized secondary school. The extra cash is in addition to the £1.4 billion allocated for school building improvements and £1.3 billion to support the transition to the new fairer funding formula – ensuring no school loses out as part of the changes. Harriett commented: “Over the last year the Government has announced a range of measures to improve the funding deal for local schools and work towards a better deal to support our dedicated, hard-working teachers. “Schools bid for specific projects to improve their facilities and those awards will continue as usual but this extra money will be a boost for the schools who I know have specific projects in mind. “I will happily support any bid that a local head teacher wishes to make from this fund and hope that parents and teachers will have added confidence that this Government is allocating the right money to help our children to get the best possible start in life.”