Press release: Greenwich enters into negotiations with a preferred bidder
23 May 2006
Greenwich Council has entered into final negotiations with a preferred bidder for its multi-million pound Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
Subject to further conditions being met, the Council has provisionally appointed VT group plc. A formal appointment is expected in the coming weeks.
Greenwich is one of the pathfinder local authorities on the Government’s multi-million pound BSF programme, which aims to transform school buildings across England through a mix of public and private funding. The government has committed £45billion to the national programme, £290million of which has been allocated to Greenwich.
The BSF programme is running alongside an ambitious programme of modernisation across the Council to improve services for local people. It includes a schools re-organisation programme, new service centres for local residents and a network of children’s centres across the borough.
Greenwich Council Leader Cllr Chris Roberts said:
“BSF will see schools across the borough transformed to provide state-of-the-art facilities and buildings which truly inspire learning. Our plans are ambitious, exciting and forward looking and aim to bring about the very best for local children.
“Standards in our schools have been rising steadily over the past three years, reflecting a new mood of optimism and dynamism. We are sure that the same high standards will be delivered from our strategic partner for the BSF programme and expect them to share our vision of offering schools truly fit for the 21st century.”
Greenwich Council and VT group will work together with Partnerships for Schools (PfS) on their negotiations. PfS is the agency responsible for delivering BSF on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills (DfES).
Richard Bowker, CEO of PfS, said:
“PfS is pleased to have worked so closely with Greenwich, one of BSF’s pathfinder local authorities, to develop a model that meets the special circumstances of Greenwich. We are delighted that they have nominated a private sector partner to take their BSF programme forward locally. We look forward to working with the team in Greenwich on the next phase of the project and ultimately to delivery of new schools.”
Simon Withey, Managing Director of VT Education and Skills, commented:
"We are delighted to be working with Greenwich on delivering a high quality network of secondary schools that will bring real benefits to young people in the Borough. We will utilise our considerable experience in education support services to ensure that this pathfinder project is a success."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is the largest single schools capital investment programme for over 50 years. The aim is to rebuild or renew every one of England's 3,500 state secondary schools during the 15-year lifetime of the £45 billion programme.
- Five of Greenwich’s secondary schools will be transformed in the first, £170million phase of their BSF programme. Crown Woods School, Eltham, The John Roan School, east Greenwich, and Thomas Tallis School, Kidbrooke will all be completely rebuilt. Eltham Hill School, Eltham, and Plumstead Manor School, Plumstead, will be refurbished and extended.
- Partnerships for Schools (PfS) is the delivery agency for Building Schools for the Future. It was established in April 2004 as a Non-Departmental Public Body, and is operated and funded under a joint venture between DfES and Partnerships UK.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Greenwich Council:
Tamsin Gregory 020 8921 5042
tamsin.gregory@greenwich.gov.uk
VTplc:
Phil Rood 01489 775213
phil.rood@vtplc.com
