After years of disappointment Helston Community College is to receive money towards long overdue work on its buildings.

The Government has this morning announced that 17 schools in the South West will have their buildings rebuilt or refurbished under the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP).

This is designed to improve the standard of school buildings so that pupils learn in high quality classrooms and teachers have access to the best facilities.

Although no figure has been announced, it is understood that Helston should receive enough to be able to rebuild not only its ailing C-Block but also E-Block as well - around 80 to 90 per cent of the school's north site facilities. 

It is third time lucky for Helston Community College, who have been left disappointed twice before.

It was initially due to receive money under a similar Government programme, Building Schools for the Future, which was subsequently cancelled.

Then last year Cornwall Council revealed it was unable to find the £10 million it had agreed in principle, to help the college rebuild its dilapidated C-Block.

Welcoming the news, West Cornwall MP Andrew George, who helped promote the bid from Cornwall Council for this latest funding, said: "Funding available should be enough to cover 80 to 90 per cent of the north site.

"It's all fantastic news. It's a tremendous amount of work by a lot of people."

He went on to praise previous headteacher Dr Pat McGovern, who left last summer, for his work in championing the funding project.

Mr George added: "It is all very, very good news and a great relief. And of course it is my old school, so I'm doubly delighted."

A total of 277 schools in England will receive a share of £2 billion, as part of the second phase of the scheme.

The Government has today also published details of £4 billion being allocated between 2015 and 2018 to schools, local authorities, academy trusts, and voluntary-aided partnerships to help them improve the condition of schools across the country.

Announcing details of the combined £6 billion funding investment, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “It is crucial that we invest properly in education, so that every child has a fair start in life.

“Thousands of pupils will benefit from better, brighter, warmer classrooms thanks to this funding.

“Children can’t learn and teachers can’t teach in schools that are cold and have leaking roofs.

“To create a stronger economy we have to invest in a fairer society so that our young people can be successful in the future.”