SCHOOLS in Barnet have been awarded £80 million by the Government for renovation works.

The money, from the Building Schools for the Future programme, will be used to improve and rebuild six schools across the borough.

Barnet is one of six councils in England to be awarded a total of £500m in the latest round of funding. More than 1,000 rebuilding projects in 80 areas are already underway.

Barnet Council leader Mike Freer said: “Barnet has for many years asked for Government money for our secondary schools ,so we are grateful that we are to receive this funding.

"We would have liked to have had this money a lot sooner, but it would be churlish not to say thank you."

Councillor Anne Hutton, Labour spokeswoman for children, said: "This money will improve secondary school buildings in Barnet and help provide an excellent learning environment for local children.

"The Tories in Barnet are always complaining that they get no money from Government, yet this is another example of how wrong they are.

"In comparison, their own national party is refusing to rule out cuts to schools."

Andrew Dismore, Labour MP for Hendon, added: “This unprecedented investment in Barnet’s schools will make a huge improvement to the quality of the borough's schools.

"It is in stark contrast to the Conservative's commitment to cut £4.5 billion from Labour’s Building Schools for the Future programme.”

Bishop Douglass Catholic School, in Hamilton Road, East Finchley; St Mary’s Church of England High School, in Downage, Hendon; Copthall Girls School, in Pursley Road, Mill Hill; The Ravenscroft School, in Barnet Lane, Barnet; the Pavilion Pupil Referral Unit, in Chandos Avenue, Whetstone; and Oak Lodge Special School, in East End Road, East Finchley, will all benefit from the Government cash.

St Mary’s will be rebuilt on its present site and the Pavilion will be rehoused, while the other schools will receive investment for refurbishment and improvement work.

Ravenscroft headteacher Mary Karaolis said the money would make a "tremendous difference" to the school.

"I have been headteacher for ten years and in all that time I have spent less than £1.5m on renovation work, so this money will hopefully go a long way.

"I can't say for sure where the money will go, as it will be down to my successor in September to make that decision, but another sports hall would be good as the other one is very over-used by students.

"We try to keep our buildings in good condition, but any new building work or refurbishment would be fantastic."