Record number of schools opened

Ed Balls says pupils are getting classrooms for the future

A record number of new or refurbished schools are being officially opened in England by ministers.

In total 180 new school buildings have been completed in England this term - the highest number for thirty years.

The government claims that it is on track to re-build or refurbish every secondary school in the country.

But critics - including the Conservatives - say delays and bureaucracy mean that target cannot be met.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls says more and more pupils are getting classrooms "fit for the future".

"As every teacher, child and parent knows, going to school in a brand new building which is designed for the 21st century can make all the difference," said Mr Balls.

"We are now turning the corner on decades of under-investment and it's children and young people who are seeing the benefits."

Among the schools being opened by ministers across England on Wednesday are 22 brand new or completely refurbished schools.

There will be 47 new academies opened this month, with another four in January, creating a total of 134.

The Building Schools for the Future programme, which is re-building and renovating schools in England, promises to deliver more than 50 new schools this year. This is due for completion by 2020, with �21.9bn due to be spent between 2008 and 2011.

Academies - often called privately run state schools - are a key part of the drive to build and refurbish England's schools.

Mr Balls is also announcing on Wednesday that universities are expanding their involvement in the academy programme.

He says more than half of universities, 45 out of 88, are to sponsor academies, with a further 20 universities in discussions.

The Conservatives have highlighted delays in the Building Schools for the Future project, saying that it has "fallen hugely behind schedule" since it was announced in 2004.

Shadow Minister for Families, Maria Miller, said: "Today�s announcement confirms a record of failure on the part of the government.

"The original ambition was to rebuild every school by 2015. That has now been dropped and the department refuses to put a date on when they think the programme will be completed - on current trends the original pledge could not be met until 2026, 11 years late."

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