SIX schools in Southend will be given a share of £30million to refurbish and expand over the next financial year.

The money has been allocated in the council’s budget and over the next four years, £50.7million will be spent on the schools.

Belfairs High School, in Leigh, will get £21.5million this year and £4.2million next year. Work began in October to demolish the current science buildings at Belfairs ahead of the construction of a new school which will include a 150-seat theatre, sports hall and seven teaching rooms for Southend Adult Community College.

St Christopher’s Special School, in Leigh, will be given £650,000 this year. Jackie Mullan, headteacher of St Christopher’s, in Mountdale Gardens, said the school is building an extension to give more space. She said the school currently has 185 pupils instead of the 105 it is meant to have and the extra pupils were being taught in temporary classrooms.

She said: “We are going to build a first floor extension on top of the roof, which is most of the work. This will create a school fit for the 21st century.”

As part of the new extension, the school will also create a music and drama room, as well as replace its leaking roof.

Mrs Mullan said: “The ground floor will be refurbished and we will redo the staff room and create a parents meeting room. We are cramped at the moment and it will give us the chance to have a school that will take us forward for the next 50 years.”

Work is expected to begin in June or July with it finishing in April.

Hinguar Primary School, in Shoebury, is also set to be rebuilt and will be given £4.8million this year and £3.5million next year.

Between 2010 and 2011, £1.4million will be spent on Barons Court Infant School, in Avenue Road, Westcliff.

The school has been given the go ahead to become a primary school from September and will be using the money to build four new classrooms.

Part of the existing school was demolished in the summer holidays and temporary classrooms were put up while the building work takes place.

Westborough Primary School, Westcliff, will benefit from £750,000 of funding this year.