Education in Waltham Forest will receive a £45m boost from the Government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI) to build and refurbish 11 schools in the borough.

Work is scheduled to start in mid-2004. Schools which will benefit include:

Heathcote Secondary - new building, increase from four- to six- form entry.

Chase Lane Infants and Juniors - new building, partial amalgamation of schools, decrease from four- to three-form entry, increase from 40 to 45 nursery places.

Church Mead Infants - new building, retain four-form entry.

Edward Rehead Infants and Juniors - new building, increase from 40 to 45 nursery places.

Jenny Hammond Primary - new building, create 30 nursery places.

Larkswood Infants and Juniors, create 45 nursery places, reduce from four- to three-form entry.

Downsell Infants and Juniors - new building, reduce from 60 to 45 nursery places.

The funding will provide new school buildings and will also cover their maintenance for the 30 years of the contract.

Now that the council bid has been given the go-ahead from central Government it will advertise the contract this summer and select its preferred construction partner in summer 2003.

Cllr Chris Robbins, Waltham Forest Cabinet member for Lifelong Learning, said: "The project will be an enormous boost to the opportunities of pupils attending these schools in future. They will all have the benefit of modern facilities - just like pupils at (PFI-funded) Lammas School."