EDUCATION chiefs are trying to breathe new life into schools across the county.

The county council has £3.3m to spend on primary and secondary schools.

Projects vary from small-scale developments in rural communities to improve the learning environment, to large schemes in some of the bigger towns.

Extra teaching space will be provided at some while at others temporary classrooms will be replaced. They include the primary school at Romanby, near Northallerton, where extra classrooms are being built at a cost of £255,000.

There are a number of schemes to improve bus-parking in an effort to encourage pupils to use public transport and reduce the number of cars on the school run. They include Bedale School, where £65,000 of work is to be carried out.

More than £1m has also been earmarked to improve access at a number of schools, both primary and secondary, such as building ramps and improving toilets.

They include £35,000 toilets at Askrigg voluntary-controlled primary in Wensleydale, a £70,000 lift at Le Cateau School, Catterick Garrison, and accessible toilets at Richmond CE Primary School and Richmond Methodist Primary School, each costing £15,000.

County council executive member for education, Chris Metcalfe, said: "The fabric of our schools is paramount. Having the right learning environment is almost as important as employing the best teachers.

"This extra money will ensure the two work hand-in-hand to give our children the best possible start to life by providing high quality teaching in excellent schools.

"Environment is pivotal which is why we are spending so much on schools, access in particular, so children in North Yorkshire can make the most of the superb educational standards this county council is delighted to offer."