2008
13 October 2008
A variety of articles relating to BSF projects around the country...
10 October 2008
Carillion wins an Academy project in Essex, Bradford considers plans for a SEN school and Gordon Brown reassures the construction industry over the credit crunch...
09 October 2008
Students at a school in Rotherham produce a news show about BSF...
08 October 2008
Updates from BSF projects in Leeds, East Riding, Somerset and Wolverhampton...
07 October 2008
The Guardian reports that the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has released a report arguing that the plan to introduce diplomas to replace A-Levels and GCSEs in England is at risk because the qualification is not considered to be credible. The report argues that: "The government does not know the full cost of introducing the reforms and has only just begun a survey of what building programmes will be necessary...The Building Schools for the Future scheme…is happening without regard for the needs of the new diplomas."…
PfS response: Since spring 2005, Partnerships for Schools has worked with each local authority as they develop their plans for BSF to ensure that the 14 – 19 agenda, and associated diploma facilities, are fully embedded within the authority’s strategy for BSF – both at an area wide and individual school level. As a key component of an authority’s strategy to help transform education, if we and the DCSF feel this has not been given sufficient focus, then the BSF project will not be allowed to progress to the next stage.
06 October 2008
Some comments and features from the trade press, plus developments in Stoke-on-Trent's BSF programme...
03 October 2008
More articles from the trades reporting on the plans to reprocure the BSF Academies framework and the credit crunch, as well as a variety of articles in the PPP Bulletin...
02 October 2008
Contract Journal predicts which companies will bid for the new BSF Academies framework, building is under way in Westminster, and more...
01 October 2008
News from the BSF programme in Sheffield, and a look at what new academies could mean for the city of Bristol...
30 September 2008
Article in Public Service Online, plus local coverage from South Tyneside, Hull and Cambridgeshire...
29 September 2008
Articles from the national, trade and local press, including a letter from Tim Byles in the Observer....
26 September 2008
The Financial Times reports that PfS will unveil the new academies framework today...
25 September 2008
Rochdale shortlists its BSF bidders, Plymouth submits plans for its first BSF scheme and Redcar and Cleveland organises public consultation on its BSF project...
24 September 2008
Articles in the trade press picking up on various items addressed at the PfS annual conference, including the minimum design standard and waves 7-15 consultation, as well as local press articles from around the country...
23 September 2008
Regional news items including how a Sunderland academy is shaping up with plans to establish groups for staff, students, parents and the community to have their say on the new school; plus how students are settling in at their new BSF school in Lancashire...
22 September 2008
The Obsrever writes that the Teacher Support Network (TSN) and the British Council for School Environments (BCSE), claims teachers' voices risk being lost in the BSF process as architects feel "overburdened"...
PfS response: “High-quality design that genuinely transforms the way students learn and teachers teach is a non-negotiable in BSF. Student and teacher voices therefore are an important part of ensuring that we design and build schools which are safe, welcoming, inspirational and reflect 21st century teaching and learning styles.
“Over the past year PfS has announced that local authorities should now take advantage of the Sorrell Foundation’s workshops which give students and teachers a greater insight into design issues – and also gives architects a feel for what the learners of today expect in their schools. Of the 22 BSF schools which opened this month there are many examples of how students, teachers and local residents have helped shape new centres of learning in their communities.
“We are also moving towards the introduction of a Minimum Design Standard for BSF schools which will involve, and reflect, the views of educationalists and end users – the students and the teachers who bring these buildings to life.
“Starting later this year, our programme of Post Occupancy Evaluation of schools will marry the technical aspects of how well a design has translated from the drawing board together with the views of teachers who are working in them, ensuring that we learn lessons as the programme gathers pace.”
19 September 2008
Coverage in response to the PfS conference on September 18 2008. In particular, the press reports on schools minister Jim Knight's speech at the conference, which addressed the DCSF consultation on future BSF waves and the minimum design standard...
18 September 2008
Tim Byles writes a letter to the Newcastle Journal, regarding the opening of three new BSF schools in the area...
17 September 2008
A variety of articles on BSF in the local press, including a letter from Tim Byles to the Telegraph and Argus (Bradford)...
16 September 2008
Local news from Manchester, Portsmouth and Hull...
15 September 2008
Coventry and Doncaster make progress in their BSF programmes...
12 September 2008
More coverage from the ministerial tour of schools on September 10, plus a special report on BSF in Building Magazine...
11 September 2008
Variety of stories in the broadcast, national, trade and local media, reporting on schools opening and the Grand Opening Tour by Ministers on 10 September...
10 September 2008
The Telegraph reports that Half of England’s universities will help run state schools under an expansion of the academies programme and The Times notes that more than 180 schools are being built this year, or have just been completed...
09 September 2008
PPP Focus reports that a number of BSF schools are opening this school year, Tim Byles writes a letter to the Sheffield Telegraph congratulating Chaucer students on their GCSE exam success, plus a variety of articles from this month's Public Private Finance...
08 September 2008
Times Educational Supplement discusses the large number of schools opening this academic year and publishes a feature article on large schools, citing the case study of Brislington Enterprise College...
05 September 2008
Construction Manager interviews Tim Byles and discusses the academies framework. Also includes articles on Hull and Oldham's BSF projects...
04 September 2008
Bristol Brunel Academy is nominated for two RIBA special awards. Also, coverage from around the country regarding BSF school openings...
03 September 2008
Newspapers in Bradford and Newcastle get a sneak preview of new BSF schools in the two cities which welcome students for the first time this month...
02 September 2008
A special supplement featuring all aspects of the BSF programme - from student engagement to the role of headteachers, to the difference BSF is already making in schools - has been published with today's Education Guardian ahead of the PfS Annual Conference on 18 September...
01 September 2008
As students and teachers around the country prepare for the start of the new school year, PfS CEO Tim Byles gives his update on progress in the national programme...
29 August 2008
A concept that could revolutionise secondary education will take a major step forward next term with the expansion of ‘human scale’ schools. Brislington Enterprise College in Bristol will become the first ‘school within a school’ design to open under Building Schools for the Future...
28 August 2008
Three new PfS appointments are highlighted in LGC, plus a look at how ICT in BSF punches above its weight - according to the Strategic Director of ICT at PfS...
27 August 2008
Work is expected to begin in the autumn on a multimillion pound transformation of a Washington school as part of Sunderland's BSF scheme...
26 August 2008
Articles look at the GCSE results in BSF schools, with a letter from the Chief Executive of PfS congratulating students in Bristol on their exam success. Also, the Minister for the Olympics says that sporting facilities in BSF schools is one way to encourage the Olympians of the future….
22 August 2008
Schools across England celebrate this year’s GCSE results, with many local authorities looking forward to the impact BSF will have on results in the future…
21 August 2008
Students from across England collect their GCSE results - including at a number of BSF schools. Bristol Brunel Academy’s pupils faced extra pressure as some agreed to join Principal Armando Di-Finizio to open their results live on BBC television...
20 August 2008
With the BSF programme well under way in South Shields, David Miliband MP congratulates local students on GCSE and A level results. Also updates on local BSF schemes, including Stockton Borough Council’s plans for greener schools, a look around the latest BSF school to open in Bristol, and Land Securities Trillium giving £45,000 to support the Shakespeare Schools Festival...
19 August 2008
Wood chips from Lancashire forests will power the boilers at three new schools which open in the county for the start of the new academic year; plus legal appointments for Nottinghamshire County Council’s BSF scheme...
18 August 2008
The Sunday Telegraph argues that there is a positive lesson to be learned from the success of city academies...
15 August 2008
Local papers congratulate A level students who received their exam results yesterday, and look forward to progress in their local BSF schemes. The FT looks further afield to the education system in Sweden and what this could mean for schools in England...
14 August 2008
Leeds has signed a deal for the first non-schools project to be delivered by a Local Education Partnerships (LEP). Two new leisure centres will be built. Also South Tyneside fights back against a think tank’s claims that Northern residents should consider moving south. Regeneration, including new BSF schools, mean there is plenty to stay in the north for...
13 August 2008
Middlesbrough Council has unveiled plans for major investment in the local area, including new and refurbished schools as part of the national BSF programme...
11 August 2008
Sunderland school children can now see the design of their future new school in £D, thanks to a Newcastle-based architectural practice. Think tank Civitas looks to the Swedish model of education and the impact freedom of choice can have on school performance...
08 August 2008
Final preparations to get Brislington Enterprise College ready to open at the start of the new school term, the third new BSF school in the city of Bristol...
07 August 2008
The space requirements of schools are changing in response to the new curriculum and diplomas, challenging designers to come up with new solutions, plus Doncaster’s BSF programme is given the green light...
06 August 2008
Blackburn with Darwen’s Outline Business case (OBC) for BSF has been formally approved by the DCSF and PfS; while North Somerset Council is looking for financial support from the FA for an all-weather pitch at a new BSF school...
05 August 2008
The man at the helm of Stoke-on-Trent’s BSF programme speaks of his reason for taking the job; while councils in Middlesbrough and Doncaster take the next step on their BSF journey...
04 August 2008
Rochdale names the selected bidder for its academy under the PfS National Framework; The Sunday Times includes a letter from the Chief Executive of PfS in response to a CBI report into the BSF programme. Tim Byles writes: “ The CBI’s references to delays are now a bit out of date as the end-of-term report for BSF is a positive one”...
01 August 2008
Building Design examines the importance of outdoor spaces in BSF, while Local Government News looks at how schools are leading the way in choosing renewal energy technology. Meanwhile furniture from a Burnley school will be shipped to the other side of the world to benefit students in Gujrat...
31 July 2008
Includes article from Hull Daily Mail about Hull's new recreation strategy, which is linked to the city's BSF programme and a piece on better design in the Municipal Journal...
30 July 2008
Comment article in Society Guardian looks at the relationship between design and social value...
29 July 2008
Karl Hoods, head of information systems at PfS, is interviewed by What PC?, Sir John Sorrell responds to the Guardian Article from 21 July and York signs a BSF deal with Carillion...
28 July 2008
Today's coverage focuses on the publication of the CBI report on BSF and press reactions to this...
PfS response: See response from Tim Byles, chief executive of PfS:
“We welcome the CBI’s support for the BSF programme and their clear recognition that the legacy of BSF will not be measured in bricks and mortar, but by our success in providing inspiring learning environments for every young person, no matter what their background, enabling them to reach their full potential. The references to ‘delays’ in this report are, however, an historical account. The end of term report for BSF is a positive one, with the programme hitting or exceeding all delivery targets for 2007/8. 13 BSF schools are now open, with that number set to more than double this autumn, and then rising to around 200 new schools over the next few years. 80 local authorities are now in programme, covering over 1,000 schools engaged in BSF. Local authorities that were not due to begin their BSF projects for the next year or more have been invited to enter the programme this summer and changes being made to the procurement process – expected to deliver up to £250m savings – have been welcomed by the private sector. Despite some challenging economic conditions, BSF continues to be an attractive market for the private sector; indeed, over the last few months alone, a number of private sector players have indicated their intention to enter the market.”
25 July 2008
Includes Building Design article with comments from RIBA President, Sunand Prasad, who criticises architectural schools and Times Educational Supplement piece about the Aldridge Foundation, which is sponsoring two Academies...
