Students feel a “sense of pride” and are increasingly taking up science at a school in Brentwood following a £27 million rebuild, an education minister has said. 

Brentwood County High School’s brand new creative arts and science blocks, which opened last month, are part of a multi-million-pound refurbishment and rebuild. The scheme is due for completion in late 2023. 

Baroness Diana Barran, parliamentary under secretary of state at the Department for Education, said the Brentwood investment has already seen benefits with increases in the numbers of youngsters at the school taking up sciences. 

She said: “I spent some time speaking to some of the students and what has come through is the quality of education - it’s just easier to teach well in a really well set up, modern, warm classroom. 

“It’s much more engaging for students. For example, we were looking at some of the areas where the buildings have progressed already. Uptake of sciences are increasing because students can see the quality of the facilities, and all the buildings are going to be carbon zero. 

“I think that is incredibly important for the environment but also really motivating for students and something they care about. It builds a sense of pride to be working in a school with great surroundings.” 

Brentwood County High School returned to a ‘good’ Ofsted rating earlier this year after spending eight years at 'requires improvement'.  

The report, published on July 13, highlighted that students at the Seven Arches Road school have “high aspirations for themselves and each other” and they “work hard to achieve high levels of success”. 

In addition to infrastructure cash, Brentwood County High School is receiving £3.88 million in total in 2023/24, or £ 6,366 per pupil, through the schools national funding formula. 

The school was selected for a major refurbishment as part of the priority school building programme 2, now known as the school rebuilding programme. 

Other schools in Essex selected for refurbishment funding in previous rounds include The King Edmund School, Burnt Mill Academy, The Endeavour Co-Operative Academy, Helena Romanes School and St Mark’s West Essex Catholic School. 

The latest round’s successful schools include Chigwell Primary Academy, St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford and The Bromfords School, in Wickford.