Students settle into 10th BSF school
26 February 2008
Hundreds of students in Stoke-on-Trent are this week starting work in a brand new school – the 10th school to open after rebuilding or refurbishing as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme.
Sandon High School, which specialises in business and enterprise, is the first new build BSF school in the Stoke area. Another BSF school, Birches Head High, opened in October last year after major refurbishment and the integration of new ICT technologies.
The Sandon school boasts a three-storey state-of-the-art, energy efficient building. It includes a 155-seat lecture theatre, a business enterprise zone, and a five-court sports hall. Sandon’s facilities have been designed with dual use in mind, and will be used by the local community as well as by students.
Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools, said: "Independent studies have shown that almost nine out of 10 young people say they do not feel inspired by their current schools. Building Schools for the Future is tackling this problem head on by providing safe, welcoming and inspiring learning environments for young people, and by putting schools back at the centre of their local communities.
"Sandon High School – our 10th BSF school – is a great example of exactly this kind of environment, and I hope that students, teachers and members of the local community enjoy working, learning and playing in this new building."
Councillor Ian McLaughlan, portfolio holder for Children and Young People's Services in Stoke-on-Trent said: "This new school illustrates graphically the benefits of the Building Schools for the Future programme. The project has involved parents, teachers, pupils and contractors from inception to completion. If anyone has any doubts about the value of the Building Schools for the Future project they should look at Sandon High and talk to those involved in the development of this complex."
Head teacher Barbara Hall said: "I'm absolutely thrilled that the students of Sandon and the Meir community as a whole will be able to enjoy these wonderful facilities that they so richly deserve."
Deputy Head Andy Housley added: "This is the first time in their careers teachers have been able to have a say in the design and development of a school. We're aiming at making an environment which is not just ideal for the present but something that will still be viable in 30 years time."
Notes to Editors:
- The 10 BSF schools now open are:
Sandon High School (25 February 08) Birches Head, Stoke (Oct 07)
Elmgreen, Lambeth (Sept 07 – open in temporary blocks until new build is completed in 2009)
Bristol Brunel Academy (Sept 07)
Sixth Form, Haringey (Sept 07) Oxclose, Sunderland (June 07)
Chaucer, Sheffield (Oct 06)
Bamburgh, STaG (Oct 06)
All Saints, Newcastle (Sept 06)
Forest Oak & Merstone schools (May 06) - Two more BSF schools are due to open by the end of the financial year 2007-2008.
- The two schools to have opened in Stoke are ‘Quick win’ schools. Quick win BSF funding was provided to individual schools in advance of an area’s main BSF project in Waves 1 and 2. A separate review is currently being undertaken by the local authority regarding the plans for the delivery of the other BSF schools in Stoke.
- 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 England’s state secondary schools estate during the lifetime 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 DCSF (formerly DfES) and Partnerships UK.
