The government has confirmed that 277 schools across England are to be rebuilt or refurbished under the second phase of its Priority School Building Programme.


The latest wave of construction is estimated to be worth around £2bn which follows on from the initial phase of development which freed up cash for 260 back in May 2012.


The Priority School Building Programme replaced the Building Schools for the Future initiative and aims to get the money out to the market faster and make the process of school delivery cheaper.


The new scheme has reduced the costs and the delivery times by around two thirds.


Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “It is crucial that we invest properly in education, so that every child has a fair start in life.


“Thousands of pupils will benefit from better, brighter, warmer classrooms thanks to this funding.


“Children can’t learn and teachers can’t teach in schools that are cold and have leaking roofs.”


The first phase of this development programme has already delivery 16 schools with 55 also in the pipeline and crucially has benefitted local and medium to smaller construction firms by rewarding those businesses who are responsive and agile.