ST PETER'S and St Rumon's Schools in Tavistock look set to benefit from a major £1.7-million investment in the coming year, it was announced this week.

The schools, which are independent but work together as a church school federation, have ageing buildings that are in desperate need of updating.

The investment is part of a £42-million package announced by Devon County Council, recommended for approval by its cabinet on March 9.

The county is earmarking £750,000 for St Peter's Junior School, as part of a joint project with the Diocese of Exeter — the £1.4-million scheme will refurbish and extend the school. And £300,000 will go towards refurbishing the main school building at St Rumon's Infants School.

Tim Jones, chairman of governors, said: 'This is such exciting news for us.

'We have been looking forward to this for so long now, it's been a long road for us but this is going to be fantastic news for the whole school community — and for Tavistock as well.

'It's going to transform St Peter's. The school has a very out-dated design for education in the 21st century.

'It has very small, open plan classrooms, but the rebuild will give us three larger classrooms and a community room and also new office space.

'This is the first of four phases but it's the main one, which will re-build about a third of the whole school.

'As far as St Rumon's goes, the building dates back to the 1870s and the roof and boiler are in desperate need of replacement — we've been lucky to get through with them as long as we have done.'

Mr Jones said the schools were 'incredibly grateful' that the county and diocese had recognised the urgent need for capital investment.

'The staff have had to put up with some very awkward accommodation for many years, this is going to help enormously in our vision for the future of the schools — it's fantastic news.'

Clare Wesson, executive headteacher at the schools, said: 'If this funding is approved it will enable us to transform our building and make St Peter's an outstanding learning environment for the future.

'Our school community has been raising money itself towards this project for many years and this will be just reward for all the hard work undertaken.'

Devon's cabinet member for schools and skills Christine Channon said: 'At a time of serious spending restraint, this is good news for education, youth services and early years throughout Devon and our students, teachers and school staff.

'But it is also good news for the many businesses throughout the county which will benefit.

'Obviously, scores of people in the building trade will be employed on these projects but there are also the wholesalers and suppliers of all the materials we need.

'And every pound that is injected into the economies of our towns and villages has a knock-on effect for many more businesses.

'We have tried to spread the money fairly and reflect the highest priority needs in our schools and local communities.'

The capital programme will run from April 2011 to August 2012.

Tavistock county councillor Debo Sellis said: 'I am delighted that Devon County Council is preparing to invest in our children in Tavistock.

'I will be attending the cabinet meeting next week to support this proposal to spend over £1-million to improve two of the town's schools.'