A WEST Oxfordshire secondary school has won £1.2m of Government cash to improve lighting and insulation across its buildings.

Burford School, in Cheltenham Road, Burford, will spend half the cash installing energy-efficient lighting to 75 per cent of its buildings.

The remaining money will re-roof the 1970s technology block, clad its external walls with insulation and replace single-glazed windows with double-glazing. It is estimated the work will save the school £4,000 to £5,000 a year.

The project will begin during the summer holidays, with the technology block completed by the end of September and the lighting by the end of November.

Burford School business manager Jim Meridew said: “The school is very excited because firstly it proves that the academy’s capital maintenance fund is going to where there is need, and it means that there is funding for schools such as ours when trying to improve the quality of buildings.”

Funding for the improvements came from the Government’s Academies Capital Maintenance Fund.

Burford School converted to an academy on July 1, 2012, giving it greater control over its budgets, curriculum and staffing.

Mr Meridew said: “All the time there is money available in central Government we will continue to bid into it and try to improve the school. The next focus is to continue looking to improve the thermal efficiencies of the buildings and replacement of windows where it is still single-glazed.

“It gives you a dual benefit – not only do we get the buildings looking and feeling better, but also we end up saving money on our utilities bills.

“In the current climate, achieving thermal efficiency and reducing utilities costs is a key consideration.”

Headteacher Kathy Haig said: “This funding is extremely welcome.

“It will enable us to extend the life of a building that, along with improving the quality of lighting, will make the school a better place for students to learn in and staff to work in.”