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Pilot scheme in England to convert empty classrooms into community hubs
UK NewsPolitics•July 14, 2026 at 8:00 PMNational

Pilot scheme in England to convert empty classrooms into community hubs

By Richard Adams Education editor•The Guardian - UK News

Policy to create youth clubs and health centres aims to tackle surplus of school spaces created by falling pupil numbersClassrooms left empty by falling numbers of pupils could soon be converted into youth clubs or health centres, as part of a pilot scheme to be announced this week.In the pilot a group of local authorities in England will be given £2.1m by the Department for Education to fund their initial plans for repurposing empty school buildings or unused facilities into community assets, with the first conversions expected to be up and running next year. Continue reading...

Policy to create youth clubs and health centres aims to tackle surplus of school spaces created by falling pupil numbers

Classrooms left empty by falling numbers of pupils could soon be converted into youth clubs or health centres, as part of a pilot scheme to be announced this week.

In the pilot a group of local authorities in England will be given £2.1m by the Department for Education to fund their initial plans for repurposing empty school buildings or unused facilities into community assets, with the first conversions expected to be up and running next year.

Continue reading...