CHORLEY schools are to benefit from more than £6m government cash to reduce infant class sizes.

Work will go ahead at St George's CE, St Mary's RC and Withnell Fold to create an additional classroom at each school.

Lancashire hopes to have no infant classes with more than 30 pupils by September 2000 - ahead of the Government's target.

The three Chorley schools are among 61 through the county which are sharing a total of £4.06m cash to expand teaching space.

An extra £2.39m is being made available to provide the equivalent of 120 full-time teachers.

Chorley county councillor Don Yates welcomed the announcement, commenting: "This is excellent news for the schools in Chorley. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the successful staff and governors who will benefit greatly from new staff and classrooms."

County councillor Hazel Harding, chairman of the education and cultural services committee, also welcomed the news.

She said: "This extra funding represents the largest allocation for any local authority in this round of funding.

"It clearly demonstrates the Government's commitment to reduce infant class sizes below 30. It is great news for education in Lancashire.

"Lancashire is already well on the way to hitting the Government target that there will be no infant classes of more than 30 by 2001.

"This money will enable Lancashire's schools to expand their teaching space and gain the equivalent of 120 new teachers - I am sure that parents, teachers and governors alike will welcome the news."

St George's head teacher Mrs Ainsworth explained: "The diocese, because our numbers are high, put us forward. This will reduce sizes quite considerably. Obviously we are very pleased."

Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett announced there will be fewer than 200,000 children in infant classes over 30 by September this year, representing a reduction of 285,000 from January last year.

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