SCHOOLS across Hampshire are being given a multi-million pound boost by council chiefs.

Hampshire County Council executives have approved plans for an £18.4 million investment in education facilities in the county.

The money is set to benefit schools as they develop plans to expand services for students.

Education chief Cllr Peter Edgar has announced where the investment is going.

The money will be used in plans for four school expansions to create additional primary school places, a new performing arts studio and a new all-weather multi use games area at two secondary schools.

Cllr Edgar said: “Thanks to our strong track record in planning for the future, we are continuing to keep pace with providing additional school places to meet continued rising demand in Hampshire. I am also pleased that we are able to invest in creative and sports facilities to ensure young people have the opportunity to enjoy an all-round educational experience.”

The planned schemes in Eastleigh will support Shakespeare Infant and Junior School as they plan to permanently expand the school at a rough cost of £3,850,000.

The plans will offer 210 extra places for pupils at the school which has been designed in response to new housing development plans in Eastleigh.

St James CofE Primary School in West End will also be supported with their expansion plans and Hampshire County Council is yet to reveal the details of this development and how much it will cost.

Wildern School in Hedge End will also be given funding for a multi-use games area.

This development will cost £348,000 to construct a synthetic turf pitch which has been designed to complement the school’s ongoing efforts to enhance sports facilities for pupils.

The pitch is also required as the school plans to take on more pupils following an agreement with the council.

Money will also be invested into Swanmore College, which plans to build a new performing arts studio.

It will cost around £3,350,000 to construct with internal refurbishments and recladding to a number of buildings on the school site.

This project has been designed to improve school facilities for pupils and the community who use the current performing arts studio for clubs after school hours.

Other schools receiving funding will include Kings Furlong Infants and Junior School expansion plans in Basingtoke and Tweseldown Infant School expansion plans in Hart.

The investment in school expansions is part of the council’s strategy to provide more than 11,000 new primary school places across the county by 2018.

The strategy has been developed in a bid to keep up with a growing demand for school places across the county, due to rising birth rates, new housing developments and more families moving to Hampshire.