Chancellor reveals £9.4bn spend for primary schools

The highlight of Chancellor Gordon Brown's Budget today was the announcement of a £9.4bn fund for the rebuilding and refurbishment of primary schools over the next five years.

Following on from the Building Schools for the Future initiative for secondary schools launched last year, Brown said primary schools will benefit from: £1.6bn in 2005/06; £1.7bn in 2006/07; £1.8bn in 2007/08; £2bn in 2008/09; and £2.3bn in 2009/10.

The Chancellor said a total of 8,900 primary schools will be rebuilt or refurbished by the end of the programme.

A further £1.5bn will be set aside for rebuilding and refurbishment of further education colleges.