Press release: Partner announced for Kent’s first BSF schools’ contract
19 December 2007
Kent County Council's Press Release:
Land Securities Trillium and Northgate Information Solutions have been announced as Kent County Council’s preferred bidder to deliver the first phase of the £1.8 billion Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
The announcement represents the launch of a new £600 million public private partnership between KCC, Land Securities Trillium and Northgate Information Solutions and Partnerships for Schools (via Building Schools for the Future Investments) to refurbish or rebuild secondary schools and transform the delivery of education in the Gravesham, Swale and Thanet districts by 2014.
Land Securities Trillium and Northgate Information Solutions were chosen as Kent’s preferred bidder after a stringent selection and scoring process in line with European Union procurement rules.
Paul Carter, Leader of the KCC, said: “This is an exciting time. The need to fundamentally re-design our secondary schools has never been greater. Today’s learners have inherited yesterday’s schools and although the world has changed dramatically, school buildings and organisations have largely stayed the same.
“We are entering into a partnership committed to transforming the way secondary education is delivered. Not only will it transform buildings, it will also make the curriculum more innovative and exciting.”
Graham Badman, Managing Director of Children, Families and Education, said: “In partnership with Land Securities Trillium and Northgate Information Solutions, we aim to develop virtual and physical environments in which access to learning can occur anytime or anyplace and provide an education which is relevant to the needs of the contemporary learner as well as to the demands of the current and emerging economy.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity to invest in innovative solutions for future secondary school provision, challenging perceptions of what schools should offer and where they should be located. ”
Land Securities Trillium Chief Executive Ian Ellis said: "We are pleased to now begin this exciting project and we are sure the end results will be enjoyed for many generations to come. It is a transformational partnership and we are confident that working with Kent we will deliver first class results to help better educate the students.”
KCC will now form a Local Education Partnership (LEP) with Land Trillium and Northgate Information Solutions and PfS (via Building Schools for the Future Investments) which will be the body responsible for delivering the first phase of Kent’s ambitious BSF programme. The LEP will be a long-term partnership that undertakes to build or refurbish schools and maintain them properly over their lifetime.
Tim Byles, PfS Chief Executive, said: “We congratulate Kent on nominating their selected bidder, which is great news for the national BSF programme and even better news for the learners and communities of Kent. The new and improved buildings, facilities and technology will have an enormous impact on education and the life chances of every child in the area.”
Kent County Council intends to establish two more LEPs to transform secondary education in Kent’s remaining districts.
Notes to editors:
- Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is the largest single schools capital investment programme for more than 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.
- Partnerships for Schools (PfS) is the delivery agency and national programme manager 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 Department for Children, Families and Schools and Partnerships UK.
