FAITH schools across the county are to benefit from almost £2.5m in shared funding for refurbishment and improvement projects over the next two years.

Members of North Yorkshire County Council’s executive committee gave the go-ahead for the two-year scheme at a meeting on Tuesday.

The council has allocated funds totalling £2.4m to more than 20 schools across the county.

Funding has come from the government department for children, schools and families - not from the county council’s budget.

Bids for funding were invited from faith schools, with requests for funding totalling more than £5m received.

Among the schools to receive funding is the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, in Northallerton, which will receive £170,000.

The funding will be used for administrative developments, drainage works and replacement fencing.

Headteacher Helena McGouran said the windfall would help improve school life for her 73 young charges.

She said: "I am really pleased this funding has been allocated.

"It will be used to make improvements to the administration of the school.

"It is important to keep improving the facilities, for the benefit of the children."

St Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School, in Richmond, will receive £110,000 for a new roof, as well as £58,000 for improved security fences.

Other Hambleton schools to benefit from the scheme include:

· £48,750 to Swainby and Potto Church of England Primary School for a replacement boiler and toilet refurbishment;

· £29,250 to St Peter’s Church of England Primary School, in Brafferton, near Easingwold, for a heating upgrade;

· £3,000 to Kirkby and Great Broughton Church of England Primary School, near Stokesley, for administrative refurbishment.

County councillor Jim Clark, executive member for schools said: "We work very closely with the dioceses to co-ordinate this voluntary-aided schools capital programme, so that our schools get maximum benefit from the grants available.

"We help to make sure that the funding is allocated according to the diocesan priorities and that the money is spent to the greatest benefit of the schools.

"As a local authority we seek to ensure that all our schools are safe and well appointed to deliver the highest quality standards of teaching and learning."