Eight local schools in areas surrounding Australia's Sydney Airport have been awarded Sydney Airport Education grants.

The eight local schools from the Botany, Marrickville, Rockdale and Sutherland areas shared in the grants program. Five schools were awarded AU$10,000 each and three schools amounts between AU$5000 and AU$6600 for submitting outstanding proposals to improve facilities for students.

• Botany Public School will spend their grant on the Joseph Banks Botanic Garden project by extending their outdoor learning area, aimed at promoting responsible attitudes and a appreciation of the local wetlands;
• St Peters Public School will use their grant for school hall improvements including sound dampening, lighting and a projector screen; and
• Cairnsfoot School will establish a no-mow, no-water sensory based outdoor learning environment.

Russell Balding, Chief Executive Officer Sydney Airport said the successful schools would use their funds to provide improved facilities for their students.

"I'm very pleased that Sydney Airport is able to support community-based environmental and educational initiatives around the Airport. Supporting local schools is a good way to provide opportunities for children, who are key to our community's future," Mr Balding said.

Sydney Airport is a major employment generator and creator of wealth in the community, directly sustaining more that 62,000 full and part-time jobs, plus indirect employment for over 108,000 jobs. Sydney Airport provides a direct contribution of AU$6.6 billion to NSW Gross State Product. More than 30 million passengers use Sydney Airport annually.