HUNDREDS of North Yorkshire schoolchildren are set to benefit from Whitehall funding earmarked for the revamp of voluntary aided schools.

The Local Authority Co-ordinated Voluntary Aided Programme (LCVAP) has a £7,366,944 pot of funding available to distribute between North Yorkshire schools in the next three years.

The LCVAP allocation is a grant from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) for voluntary aided schools which need cash to undertake capital repair and improvements projects.

Councillors at a North Yorkshire County Council meeting in Northallerton next Tuesday are set to discuss how the cash should be allocated.

Voluntary-aided schools in the district, including St Benedict's Roman Catholic Primary School, in Back lane, Ampleforth; St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, of Highfield Road, Malton; and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Station Road, Tadcaster, could all benefit from the cash windfall.

St Mary's has applied for £308,000, which would allow the school to build a new library and an extension to the school's hall.

Head teacher David Harrison said the school was in desperate need of cash and if the LCVAP granted the money it would benefit the children "enormously".

Mr Harrison said: "We desperately need this funding to build a new library and extend our school hall.

"This school was built to accommodate around 60 children, but we have 99 children attending the school at the moment and we desperately need more space. The money would greatly help the children, not only in terms of space but so they can have access to a brand new library.

"We hope we are allocated the money and, if we are successful, we want the building work to start as soon as possible - hopefully in the summer holidays."

St Joseph's has applied for £128,380 to help restore the school's structures. Headmistress, Carmel Forsey, said the school needed the money to renovate the main entrance to the school and to overhaul the classroom for the key stage one children.

St Benedict's has applied for a £106,000 share of the funds for a new classroom.

Other schools set to benefit include, St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Harrogate; St Wilfred's Roman Catholic Primary School, Ripon; St Martin's CE Primary School, Scarborough; and St George's Roman Catholic Primary School.

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