EIGHT Colchester schools are celebrating after an announcement by Schools Minister David Laws of a £6million investment.

Colchester Royal Grammar School has been awarded £1.9million, enabling it to expand from three form to four form entry.

The school will admit an extra 30 pupils into Year 7 from September taking the total up to 120.

Headteacher Ken Jenkinson said: “We are delighted to receive the Government’s support for our expansion plan.

“With this investment, we will be able to create more classroom and lab space at the school and expand the PE facilities on site.

“We want to be able to give more students access to a grammar school education, without sacrificing the quality of our provision and facilities, and this capital project will enable us to achieve that.”

Colchester Academy was awarded £800,000 to carry out structural repairs to the sports centre which has been out of action for some months.

Principal Barry Hersom said: “We had some concerns about the structure of the walls, it was built in the early Seventies. We brought in structural engineers and they couldn’t absolutely guarantee its safety.”

Meanwhile, PEpupils have been able to make use of the school’s other sports spaces and have been taken to Essex University to use some of its facilities.

Mr Hersom said even after the sports centre is repaired and reopened, hopefully by September, he hoped the arrangement with the university could continue.

St Helena School will get funds for a roof replacement scheme and fire alarm replacement.

Monkwick Junior School will have a flat roof replaced, and St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School will have repairs to the roof carried out.

Philip Morant School and College will receive funds for the removal of asbestos and for refurbishment works.

Funds have been allocated to the Gilberd School for the special educational needs block.

Colchester County High School for Girls will get cash to replace pipework in the main block.