Schools to use building funds to pay teachers

The future of school repairs and renewals has come into question today (Thursday) after the Evening Standard newspaper revealed that the government is to use building funds to pay teachers.

Plans to plug the gap in teachers' wages from repair and maintenance budgets are expected to be announced by education secretary Charles Clarke this afternoon.

Around £500m of funds earmarked for capital projects is expected to made available to teachers in a bid to stop redundancies.

However the move will intensify the increasing backlog of maintenance and repair work for schools across the country.

An education department spokeswoman told the newspaper: "We have always made it clear that we look at flexibility for schools in exceptional circumstances."