THREE Somerset schools have new roofs over their heads thanks to a wave of building improvements worth £2million.

The Redstart Learning Partnership landed the huge grant in this year’s Condition Improvement Fund.

The CIF is an annual bidding round for eligible educational establishments and this year The Department for Education (DfE) provided funding of over £434m for 1,476 projects at 1,243 academies, sixth-form colleges and non-diocesan voluntary aided schools.

The fund considers applications for keeping educational provider buildings safe and in good working order, including funding projects to address health and safety issues, building compliance and poor building condition.

A new roof has been installed at Buckland St Mary School, as well for Priorswood and Holy Trinity in Taunton.

The Redstart Learning Partnership has also invested in new boilers and pipework at Winsham, Castle and Priorswood.

There is a new fire alarm system being installed at Redstart School too.

A spokesman for the trust said: “The projects have been taking place over the last few months and should all be finished by the end of April 2021.”

In addition to the CIF funding, the partnership has planned a £400,000 refurbishment for Minerva, and planned or spent a total of £100,000 at Winsham.

There were also fencing projects carried out at Holy Trinity, Redstart and Minerva last year, with a combined cost of around £135,000.

The trust spokesman added: “This money will ensure that our school buildings and sites can continue to be safe and comfortable places for our pupils, and allow all our staff to concentrate on our primary aim of providing an outstanding education for every child.”

Redstart Learning Partnership is a trust of nine schools - Redstart, Buckland St Mary, Castle, Minerva, Holy Trinity, Hatch Beauchamp, Ashill, Winsham and Priorswood.