Class sizes in Richmond schools look set to fall as the council receives a £750,000 cash boost to help fulfil the government's pre-election promise of bring infant school class sizes down to 30.

Maintenance projects and work to build extra classrooms will start in the autumn so the package of improvements is completed by September 1999.

Richmond's education officers will work with head teachers and governors over the next few weeks to identify where the money from the Department for Education will be spent.

Councillor David Cornwell, chairman of the borough's education committee, said: "This cash grant is extremely positive news for Richmond. There has always been a high demand for the education of our youngest children and this money means that schools have the chance to cut class sizes to below 30, thereby providing an even higher standard of teaching."

And the extra money was also welcomed by Councillor Serge Lourie, chairman of Richmond's policy and resources committee.

He said: "This will be a major boost for primary schools which are already recognised as some of the best in the country.

"It will make a good primary school system even better."

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