4th January 2010
Welcome to this fortnight's roundup of the latest news in the education sector, including issues affecting educational suppliers.
School Building Projects
- Local Authorities are encouraged to make use of the 2010-11 schools capital funding released earlier this year
- This capital funding was made available early to help stimulate the construction industry, and can be used for smaller building projects, fitting out classrooms and gyms, science labs and ICT facilities
- Some Local Authorities have already allocated their provision, but others are still to decide how to use their additional funding
- A total of £939m extra was brought forward from 2010-11, adding to the existing funding for 2009-10
- A typical unmodernised primary school will receive around £48,000 this year, including the brought forward funding
- A typical unmodernised secondary school will receive around £158,000
- Actual allocations are dependent on pupil numbers and other funding already available to the schools
DCSF Press Release has further information
Smart Schools Roll-out
- The Republic of Ireland’s “Smart Schools” initiative commences with the first group of schools to receive funding for ICT equipment
- Smart Schools provides funding for laptops and projectors and is based on a basic per school grant, plus a per pupil allowance
- Each primary school will receive €1700 plus €34.59 per pupil, with the initial group of schools receiving a total of €22m
- Smart Schools plans to invest €150m in total over the next three years
- Schools receiving the funding will be required to use the National Procurement Framework to get competitive quotes
Department of Education and Science Press Release has further information
