Press releases: Greenwich confirms VT as BSF partner
23 November 2006
Greenwich Council today confirmed VT Education and Skills as the Strategic Partner Organisation for its multi-million pound Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
This latest development will mean that Greenwich can take forward its plans to transform every secondary school in the borough through new buildings and improved facilities. Five schools are due to be transformed in the first wave of the programme in Greenwich (see notes to editors) with other secondary schools due to benefit from future waves.
The BSF programme in Greenwich represents the single biggest investment ever made in the borough’s schools. It will enable schools to offer an extended, flexible curriculum that meets the needs of each individual student, allowing them a wider range of options in their education, including more choice over the type of school they wish to attend.
The new schools will also provide new facilities for the wider community, for learning and community use both during and beyond the school day.
Cllr Chris Roberts, Leader of Greenwich Council, said:
“BSF gives us the opportunity to provide the best services for children and their families, delivered in the best quality environments. Standards in our schools are steadily improving and we need buildings and facilities which reflect this.”
He continued:
“Greenwich has high expectations from our strategic partner and we were looking for an organisation that demonstrated a real commitment to giving our children first-class schools. We are confident that VTES share the aspirations we have for future generations of our students and are looking forward to a successful long-term partnership.”
VT Education and Skills Managing Director Simon Withey commented:
“We are delighted to be partnering Greenwich in delivering this flagship BSF programme for London. These are exciting times in Greenwich and VT is fully committed to playing its part in helping the borough with its development plans.”
He continued:
“We will utilise our considerable experience in education to ensure that the BSF programme provides a catalyst for raising the standards of secondary school education in Greenwich.”
Partnerships for Schools’ Chief Executive Tim Byles said:
“It is excellent news that Greenwich – a pathfinder BSF local authority – and their preferred bidder VTES have reached financial close on Greenwich’s BSF projects. This is another great step forward for the progress of the national BSF programme and will benefit the schoolchildren of Greenwich for years to come.”
Architects have been working with schools in the first wave of the programme to draw up outline designs and plans. Schools will be working with local communities over the coming months to get their feedback on the outline designs, before they are put forward for planning approval.
Open days and evenings will be held at each school in the first wave at the start of next year to give staff, parents, students and local residents the opportunity to find out more about the plans. Dates for the open days and evenings will be published next month.
ENDS
Media contacts:
Tamsin Gregory
020 8921 5042
tamsin.gregory@greenwich.gov.uk
Notes to editors:
- The BSF programme, nationally worth £2.2bn a year, will transform five secondary schools in the first wave of the programme. Crown Woods School, Eltham, The John Roan School, east Greenwich, and Thomas Tallis School, Kidbrooke Park Road will all be completely rebuilt. Eltham Hill School, Eltham, and Plumstead Manor School, Plumstead, will be refurbished and extended.
- The newly built and refurbished schools in the first wave are due to open in September 2009. Ultimately, each secondary school in Greenwich will benefit from future waves of the programme.
- Partnerships for Schools (PfS) is the delivery agency for Building Schools for the Future. PfS was established in April 2004 as a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), and is operated and funded under a joint venture between DfES and Partnerships UK.
