Merseyside schools set for windfall.

THREE Wirral schools are celebrating a pounds 2.18mboost which will transform their facilities.

Education chiefs are also celebrating after learning Wirral is the only authority in the region to have backing for two major schemes from the Department for Education and Science.

Rock Ferry High, which was hit by a fire last year, will get pounds 644,000 for a new science block, and Pensby Boys and Pensby Girls schools will share a pounds 2.3m sports hall.

Rock Ferry head teacher Peter Bennett said: ``This is an absolutely wonderful opportunity and, given the setback we suffered at last year's devastating fire, this news couldn't come at a better time.

``The money means we can look forward to having state of the art science facilities and will release our Highfield Building for classroom space.''

The DfES funding will be added to pounds 1.9m from the LEA and fire insurance to create the up-to-date science block.

The two Pensby schools are to share the sports hall, paid for with pounds 1.54mfrom the DfES, and the rest from other sources, including a DfES modernisation grant, Wirral Trust for Sport and the council.

Pensby Boys head teacher Brian Jordan said the news would ``supercharge'' his school's application to become a specialist school sports college from September.

And Pensby Girls' head Steve Hyden said: ``It's terrific news that will bring much needed sports facilities to the area.'' Wirral's director of education, Howard Cooper, said: ``This is absolutely fantastic news for the area.

``We now intend to pursue all possible sources of funding to give all our children the facilities that they need and deserve.''