New BSF partnership aims to help children of the future

06 May 2008

Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen councils' joint press release: 

Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen councils are to share the challenge of Building Schools for the Future, in a bid to attract top architects and builders for a £500m programme to transform every secondary school in both boroughs.

Both councils have teamed up to work together on the next stages of The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme which was launched by the Government in 2004 and aims to rebuild or remodel every secondary school across the UK.

The councils have jointly agreed to work together and form a Local Education Partnership with a selected private sector developer and ICT provider, who will be responsible for rebuilding or redeveloping all the secondary schools across Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen.

The task of finding private sector partners to rebuild or remodel nine schools on eight school sites in Blackburn with Darwen and 17 schools in Bolton will be made easier thanks to the partnership. Project teams, and later schools, will work together to share expertise, resources, ideas and learning to make sure that the BSF programme really does transform the lives of local children. Once funding is secured, both councils will begin the rigorous procurement process to find the private sector design and construction partners who can successfully turn their plans into reality.

Representatives from all political parties on both councils have been involved in the BSF programme. Councillors Colin Rigby, Conservative leader, David Foster, Liberal Democrat leader, Tony Melia, For Darwen leader and Kate Hollern Labour leader said that both councils are at different stages of the project, but have agreed to jointly look for private sector partners to work with them in turning their plans into reality on the ground. 
 
"Our new partnership means we will work together on that process to ensure we secure the highest quality private sector partners to maximise the impact of our plans in each borough. Our aim is to improve outcomes for children, young people and our communities and this collaborative working will deliver that through sharing skills, expertise and innovation."

Labour Councillor and Bolton Council’s Executive Member for Childrens Services Linda Thomas, Leader of the Conservatives Councillor John Walsh and Liberal Democrat Councillor Carole Swarbrick added: "Partnership working means shared expertise, better use of resources and more efficient, effective working not just now but also for the future. As schools are built or remodelled, the teams will continue working together, building links between schools so children get wider opportunities.

"The expanded contract to work in two neighbouring boroughs will also make the project even more attractive to high quality private sector partners."

The agreement to progress towards a Local Education Partnership (LEP) was signed at Turton Tower on Wednesday, April 23 by the Chief Executives of Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton councils.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is in Wave 4 of the Building Schools for the Future programme, which means the development of schools will begin in 2010. It will shortly submit its outline business case to the government. This document, which has been produced through working with schools and other agencies, gives more detail of the plans to rebuild or remodel nine schools in the borough and will form the basis for securing the final funding for the scheme.

Bolton Council is aiming to be in Wave 6a of the Building Schools for the Future programme, which means its school development programme will start in 2012. It has just submitted its readiness to deliver document to the government, giving details of plans to rebuild or remodel 17 schools in the borough, which will form the basis for securing the acceleration of Bolton from waves 7-9 of the national programme.

Ends

For more information please contact:
Jane Woodall, marketing and communications, Blackburn with Darwen Council: (01254) 585177
OR
Joanne Cooke, Media Team, Bolton Council: 01204 333582

Notes to Editors

• The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme which was launched by the Government in 2004, will see every state secondary school in England – around 3,500 in total – rebuilt or remodelled, transforming education for some 3.3 million students aged 11-19.
• On average £2.5-£3 billion of capital investment is being spent on the programme each year. The Comprehensive Spending Review settlement for 2008-11 gives £9.3 billion for the BSF programme over three years.
• The scale of BSF enables local authorities to move from patch and mend spending on schools to rebuild and renewal, with a more strategic approach to funding, design, procurement and management of buildings.
• The programme aims to create learning environments which inspire all young people to unlock hidden talents and reach their full potential; provide teachers with 21st century work places; and provide access to facilities which can be used by all members of the local community.
• The BSF programme also encourages sustainable design, reducing bullying and other anti-social behaviours through the use of good quality design, new technologies and ICT and consultation with students, teachers, parents and members of the local community on the future of their schools.