Extended schools announced

This money is part of the Children and Young People Funding Package, worth over £100million, announced by the Secretary of State, Peter Hain, in March. It will impact on one third of school pupils in Northern Ireland, and will see schools become hubs in their communities, offering a wide range of support services beyond the traditional role of schools. A further £10million will be spent to develop this work in 2007 / 08.

Speaking at the breakfast club at Glenwood Primary School in North Belfast, the Minister said: "This club is an excellent example of what extended schools can offer the whole community, open from 8am so pupils can get the essential healthy start to the day, and in the process, facilitating many busy working parents.

"Extended schools open before and beyond the traditional school day. They can give children access to extra-curricular activities and health services on site, and provide important services for their entire family, in partnership with neighbouring schools and other health and community groups. They help to raise school standards while engaging with their local community, connecting local people with local services.

"A number of local schools, such as Glenwood, have already embraced the concept of extended schools, and have worked hard to find the resources to fund their extra services. I am delighted Government is now formally supporting this concept, developing and expanding the visionary work that has already taken place.

These schools will have broad freedom on how to spend this money in becoming extended schools: they may, for example, concentrate on breakfast or homework clubs, extra-curricular activities for young people; support for families; community access to ICT, sport or other specialist facilities; provision of social services or nursing services.

"Today's funding concentrates on those schools catering for children from the most disadvantaged areas - those children, families and communities on which extended schools will have the most dramatic impact. This is not a short term initiative - eventually, I want to see a network of extended schools across towns and villages in Northern Ireland, and the Children and Young People Fund is committed to achieving this.

"This money comes on top of yesterday's announcement that every primary school will receive on average £4,500 and every post primary will receive on average £24,700, to spend as they see fit. This government is fully committed to providing an excellent education for Northern Ireland's young people, and we are providing the resources to make it happen."

A full list of the schools eligible for funding from today's announcement is published on www.deni.gov.uk. Schools will receive guidance from the Department of Education on how to access the funding.

View the list of Extended Schools (pdf)