A government minister says schools across the borough will benefit from billions available as part of a development programme.

A total of seven schools in Harrow are being rebuilt or refurbished as part of the £2.4 billion priority school building programme.

The national scheme means work can be carried out at Aylward Primary School, Cedars Manor School, Marlborough Primary School, Priestmead Primary School and Nursery, Salvatorian College, Vaughan Primary School, Weald Infant School and Weald Junior School.

Work on some of the schools is already well underway and it is hoped all schools being improved across the country will be ready by the end of 2017.

Schools minister David Laws said: “The priority school building programme is making great strides in ensuring that vital building work takes place at some of the schools in the worst state across the country.

“It is providing much better value for money than previous school building schemes, and forms part of the Government’s drive to deliver the best schools for young people in order to help deliver both a stronger economy and a fairer society.”

Harrow Borough Council has already started the second phase of school expansion programme in order to meet the growing demand for places.

This will allow the council to provide 3,000 places in primary, secondary and special educational needs schools by 2015.