East Sussex County Council, which runs a lending scheme to help primary and secondary schools fund certain projects, approved a �243,500 grant handout on Friday.

The money can be used to improve the curriculum resources, the environment of the school or its administration.

The schools to receive the loans are East Hoathly C of E Primary, Rotherfield Primary School, Torfield School, Hastings, and the Downs School, Eastbourne.

Autistic unit extended

Also included were Silverdale Primary School, Hastings, Robertsbridge Community College and Ringmer Community College.

The money for Torfield School will help pay for a unit for autistic children to be extended.

Both community colleges will use the funds to improve their space for art lessons.

Barcombe Church of England Primary School was the only one to be turned down because its plans for a temporary classroom did not meet the criteria.