Major funding boost for Torbay’s schools

Children will be enjoying a brighter future thanks to more than £9million Torbay Council is spending on improving schools.

The investment, which comes from the council’s Schools Capital Programme 2021-22, has seen a number of schools receive major upgrades to their facilities.

The funding boost includes more than £3m on extensive refurbishments at St Cuthbert Mayne School in Torquay which will deliver purpose-built facilities and the refurbishment and reconfiguration of existing accommodation.

The investment will provide a new purpose-built SEN block and a reconfiguration of existing classrooms – including a new fully-equipped design and technology block, chapel, and dining area – to maximise space and flow.

The scheme has been designed in conjunction with a local architecture firm, focusing on a modern sleek and inviting yet functional upgrade of existing features, with the build undertaken by a local construction company.

The project is expected to complete in May and will ensure the school has sufficient, high-quality accommodation for its intake.

Torbay Council has recently approved additional funding for Phase 2 which will provide further improvements for teaching and learning.
Take a visual walk through Phase 1 of the school.

Some of the other schemes across Torbay benefitting from the investment include:
• Mayfield School £1m
o A new administration block and internal refurbishment to support the growth in pupil numbers over the last few years. The new block will enable the school to free up more specialist teaching space within its main building. The project is on site and expected to complete in July.
• St Michael’s Academy £0.6m
o Torbay Council contributed funding to the new free school, which opened in September. Building works are expected to be finished in the summer.
• Polsham Centre £0.25m
o Refurbishment of the Polsham Centre for primary provision for children with social, emotional and mental health needs. Work starts this month and is due to be finished by Easter.
• Schools Capital Repairs and Maintenance £0.9m
o Various projects at local authority-maintained schools including roof and boiler replacements. Most of these projects were completed over the summer holidays and October half-term. The rest will be carried out during the Easter break and summer holidays.

Cordelia Law, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and a former pupil of St Cuthbert Mayne, said: “Building new facilities and improving the condition of our buildings is helping us to meet the demand for increased school places. It also means children are learning in much better environments which can only lead to better outcomes for them.

“This funding is not just an investment in the future of our schools – it’s an investment in our children’s prospects.”