Announcing the funding they said every single primary, secondary, academy and special school in England would benefit from the settlement for 2008 to 2011.

Already 1100 new schools have been built and 27,000 classrooms built or improved, with a further 180 newly built or rebuilt schools due to open this year.

The settlement will give £9.3 billion over the next three years for the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme to rebuild and refurbish secondary schools and continue to build academies. Over 1000 schools are already involved - with momentum building so that by 2011, at least 200 newly built or rebuilt schools will be opening a year. 

The settlement includes £1.9 billion to kick start the Primary Capital Programme next year. The programme will rebuild, remodel and refurbish at least half of all primary and primary-age special schools, At least 675 primary school building projects will benefit over the next three years.

Ed Balls said:
"This is another major step forward in creating twenty-first century facilities fit for twenty-first century education in every school.

"Having top-quality facilities is a key part of the Government's long-term strategy to have a world-class education system.

"Ten years ago, classrooms and facilities were in a dire state as decades of underinvestment let down generation after generation of young people and teachers.

"Today, schools are being revolutionised by the biggest sustained investment for 50 years. Hundreds of new cutting-edge schools and facilities are now opening across the country year after year and today's announcement will expand further on this.

"Top-class and well-designed facilities are central to raising standards and helping teachers inspire our young people. Every child and community should have high quality classrooms and cutting-edge ICT, music and sports facilities."

Other funding will:
* expand successful schools;
* turn around underperforming schools;
* modernise school kitchens;
* target deprived communities;
* invest additional funding to local authorities not yet in BSF; and
* give headteachers and local authorities the resources to address the key concerns of their communities.