SCHOOLS in Suffolk are set to benefit from a £10.5 million handout by Suffolk County Council aimed at improving facilities and standards.The massive cash boost is expected to be rubber stamped at a meeting of the council's executive committee next Tuesday.

SCHOOLS in Suffolk are set to benefit from a £10.5 million handout by Suffolk County Council aimed at improving facilities and standards.

The massive cash boost is expected to be rubber stamped at a meeting of the council's executive committee next Tuesday.

It is set to be divided among the region's schools under the council's education minor works schemes/projects for 2003/2004.

A report to next week's meeting lists 30 schools which are in line to get a share of the cash, both for so-called Basic-needs projects and Modernisation schemes.

The schools in line for the larger shares of money are:-

n King Edward VI in Bury St Edmunds, which will receive £975,000 for a building plan to replace temporary accommodation and to cater for increasing pupil numbers.

n Hartismere High School in Eye, set to get £800,000 to provide additional accommodation.

n Denes High School in Lowestoft, which is in line for £690,000 to pay for refurbishment.

n Needham Market Middle School, which will receive £620,000 to fund extensions and adaptations to cater for increasing pupil numbers and for improvements to specialist facilities.

n Roman Hill Middle School in Lowestoft, set to benefit from £595,000 for improvements of specialist facilities.

n Rattlesden Primary School, which will get £550,000 to fund extensions to school buildings and replace temporary accommodation.

n Northgate High School in Ipswich, which will receive £500,000 to pay for extensions to cater for increasing pupil numbers, and replace temporary accommodation.

The report to the meeting added: "An education minor works programme of £10.5m provides a unique opportunity to plan strategically and implement some significant projects."

The committee meeting is due to be held at County Hall next Tuesday.