THE multi-million pound long-term overhaul of Herefordshire’s schools remains on course with some major schemes already complete.

Debate over the direction of education in the county is focussed on the future for small schools.

But the schools’ capital plan pitches a parallel future that is all about expectation, from new look loos to whole new schools.

In 2003 the HerefordTimes revealed the sorry state of the county’s high schools, with significant parts of all 14 either in poor condition or unfit for 21st century teaching.

The findings were the spur for one of the most ambitious ongoing initiatives in the county.

Here’s a breakdown of how major projects are progressing so far.

■ Riverside Primary School, Hunderton, Hereford.

NOW open with work underway on its external areas, despite the delay caused by the original contractor going into administration.

Herefordshire Council is now actively looking to sell part of the school site to realise cash that could help meet the identified funding shortfall for the scheme.

The council’s cabinet agreed to this course of action in February 2007 when the shortfall was – as reported by the Hereford Times – first apparent, with government grant money and a scale back in the scheme’s scope covering the rest.

Council officers are also negotiating with insurers over the release of funding from a performance bond put in place when the scheme started to mitigate against the potential costs of the developer not being able to deliver.

Since the original contractor went into administration, officers are seeking to reclaim, from the Bond’s insurers, the additional cost to the council.

■ Minster College, Leominster.

WORK on the £21 million scheme – with more than £12 million being spent over 2009-2010 – is progressing well and should be completed by the summer.

■ The Hereford Academy, Hereford.

A PROJECT of almost £24 million with £5 million spent over 2009-2010.

There is some slippage in the schedule because of the big freeze and a threeweek delay caused by the appointed groundwork contractor ceasing trading.

A new contractor is now on site with costs covered by the main contractor, not the council.

The council is now working with the academy’s trustees and the contractor to mitigate any further effect on the programme.

■ Primary capital programme.

THIS is investment in improving primary schools and primary-age special schools.

It is worth £8.378 million to the county over two financial years: £5.378m to be spent over 2010-11 with £3m spent in 2009-10.

The council cabinet has, as reported, committed more than £7m to the building of a new primary school in Leominster.

The remaining £500,000 goes into funding for designated priority schemes.

■ The Voluntary Aided Programme Capital funds for voluntary aided schools are allocated by Whitehall, with the investment programme itself coordinated by the council working with the church or non-denominational bodies.

The programme for 2009-10 was worth £1.6 million covering schemes ranging from a new hall at St Joseph’s RC primary in Ross (£300,000) to a £17,000 kitchen conversion at St Michael’s Primary (Bodenham).

Staunton-on-Wye was earmarked for £300,000 towards its new building programme.

As at the end of this financial year, all the schemes were either completed or on schedule to be completed.

Various schools have done well out of developer contributions as part of the planning process – cash demanded of developers to mitigate the impact on local services.

Some £320,000 raised this way was spent – or earmarked for spending – over the past financial year.