Web users invited to join the 'BSF Community'
18 September 2008
Partnerships for Schools (PfS) will today [Thursday 18 September] call on stakeholders to share their knowledge and experience of Building Schools for the Future (BSF) on a new social networking feature of the PfS website – the BSF Community.
The Community area is one of three new website features being launched as more than 450 delegates from schools, local authorities and the private sector attend the fourth PfS Annual Conference in London to hear updates on the programme from the Chief Executive of PfS, case studies from BSF schools which are already open, and a keynote speech by the Minister of State for Schools and Learners, Jim Knight MP.
The new features on the PfS website are:
- BSF Community: registered users will be able to share documents, blog about experiences, start discussions with other stakeholders, start polls and consultations.
- Schools' directory: a fully searchable database of BSF schools now open, including information about design, ICT, sustainability and community involvement, along with pictures of the schools.
- BSF Daily Digest: highlights from national, regional and trade media about BSF projects nationwide.
BSF Community users will also be able to register to receive email alerts when new documents, media releases and events are added to the PfS website.
Tim Byles, Chief Executive of PfS said the new functions were an important part of the as part of PfS’s commitment to enhance networking and collaboration opportunities for all members of the BSF community, and to provide access to the most up-to-date information and news about the national programme.
He added: 'With 35 schools now open and 80 local authorities engaged in the BSF programme, somewhere from early planning to final stages of construction, we are well aware that there’s a lot of experience and knowledge which can be shared and can stop us having to reinvent the wheel.
'The BSF Community area builds on the existing lessons learned presence on the PfS website, with the added bonus that registered users can interact to share information – from dates of bidders days, to case studies for effective consultation – with stimulating and relevant online discussions which should help spark ideas and create solutions.'
Notes to Editors:
- To register to use the BSF Community area go to www.partnershipsforschools.org.uk, click on BSF Community, and fill in your details.
- The Schools’ Directory can be found at: www.partnershipsforschools.org.uk/programme/school_search.jsp
- Daily news updates can be found on the PfS home page www.partnershipsforschools.org.uk, with a link to an archive of news coverage.
- The PfS Annual Conference is being held at the Marriott, Grosvenor Square.
- 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.
