Schools are set to benefit earlier then expected from a £180m investment.

The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme is a government initiative which attempts to improve standards in education.

Stockton Borough Council was expecting to receive the multi million pound sum of BSF funding over two waves however the council has been lobbying the Government to allow all of the Borough’s schools to enter the programme at the earliest opportunity.

Northfield school in Billingham was originally due to be included in the second wave of investment but last week the government annonounced that the school would be included in the first wave meaning it could benefit from new facilities by 2014/2015.

Education will continue to be delivered on both the Thames road and Marsh House Avenue sites until the remodelled Northfield buildings are complete and ready for occupation.

Headteacher of Northfield School David Youldon said: "This is fantastic news which I greatly welcome. “The investment the BSF programme will bring to Northfield School will help us make a real difference to the learning experience we can offer and will ensure that many generations of young people have the opportunity to excel and reach their full potential."

Councillor Alex Cunningham, Stockton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: "We are dedicated to ensuring that all Stockton Borough pupils benefit from this once in a life time opportunity to transform education at the earliest possible opportunity.

“Northfield School's allocation to the first wave of our BSF programme is a further step towards achieving this and we will continue to lobby the Government agencies involved in the Building Schools for the Future programme to bring forward funding for the remainder of the school estate."

The first wave of BSF funding now includes Abbey Hill Special School, the Bishopton Centre, Bishopsgarth School, Grangefield School, Ian Ramsey Church of England School, Northfield School, Our Lady and St Bede's Roman Catholic School, Westlands Special School and the creation of an academy in Stockton and another in Thornaby. Council officers are continuing to work with the Government to include the remainder of the borough's secondary schools in the Building Schools for the Future programme.