Hundreds of schools could get new kitchens, classrooms or roofs, under plans to bring forward by one year up to £800 million of capital investment in education.

Contrary to expectations, the money has not been raided from the £45 billion Building Schools for the Future budget, which aims to rebuild all secondary schools within 20 years.

Instead it has been culled from a number of smaller capital funds and is intended for smaller repairs or refurbishments that are already in the pipeline.

Under the proposals, all 150 local authorities in England are being asked to identify building and refurbishment spending which can be brought forward.

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The funding will be released from April 2009. But any money brought forward in this way will be taken off the 2010 local authority allocations.

The Schools Secretary Ed Balls described the move as part of a “sweeping away the historic legacy of under-funded and under-resourced schools”. In reality, it is little more than a much needed patching up exercise. Projects are likely to include new kitchens or building repairs.

The funds are intended to give a cash boost to the construction industry. But, there remain concerns about the capacity of builders to meet a sudden boost in demand from schools.

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