Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson on Wednesday announced a $700,000 funding injection for Tamworth High School to get essential maintenance works including plumbing and painting underway.

It follows outrage after the school was left off a list of initial schools to receive a priority funding injection earlier in the month as part of a state overhaul of school maintenance backlogs

Figures from the opposition had indicated the school would need $2.4 million to clear the backlog. However, Mr Anderson said the funding was a good start and he’d continue to push for more money.

“They (the government) didn’t announce the schools that I thought needed it the most and part of them were in my area,” Mr Anderson said.

“I’m really pleased that after meetings with the Education Minister Rob Stokes and the assets department and with Daniel Wilson from Tamworth High we were pleased to see that we’re announcing $700,00 on the table to kick-start that maintenance backlog that Tamworth High has been experiencing for a number of years.”

Mr Anderson said government funding had recently allowed the school to undertake upgrades to the front of the campus.

Now the next $700,00 was for the “internal workings”.

Mr Anderson could not confirm that Labor’s figures of a $2.4 million backlog were correct but said work was about to get underway to benefit teachers and students.

“I’d take that any day of the week if someone gives me that money ($700,000) to start work,” he said.

“My job is to continue to push and work with good principals, progressive principals.”

Tamworth High School principal Daniel Wilson said he was pleased the school could start work.

“We’re always very happy about receiving extra funding for maintenance,” he said.

“The school is the oldest school in this area and was always going to be in need of funds to help keep it up-to-date.

“The main thing for us is we want to focus on teaching and learning at the school and the kid’s needs, but the learning environment is an important factor in that.

“It has had a very positive impact over the last couple of years when we’ve benefited from significant funding injections and the kids have noticed.

“They respond and the community responds, they see that someone cares about the school and it helps bring everyone together.”