‘Best of BSF’ unveiled as PfS announces awards shortlist
11 November 2008
Building Schools for the Future (BSF) projects from 19 local authorities throughout England have been shortlisted for the first annual awards celebrating achievement in all areas of the national programme to transform education.
Expert judges, including representatives from the design community, construction industry, educationalists, students and BSF delivery partners, have now selected the top BSF projects in line to win the inaugural Excellence in BSF Awards to be presented on 26 November.
Tim Byles, Chief Executive of PfS and Chair of the Excellence in BSF Awards judging panel, said: “From my visits to local authorities and schools across the country, and conversations with industry stakeholders, I know that there are already some great examples of how BSF is transforming learning, creating dynamic public private partnerships and helping put schools back at the centre of their community.
“The 70-plus entries for our first Excellence in BSF Awards provided the judging panel with even more evidence of the impact this investment is having in all parts of the country. The nominations have showcased BSF as a catalyst for exciting and sustainable design in both new and remodelled schools, innovation in how students get involved in transforming their learning environment, and examples of robust partnerships and new leadership teams emerging.
“I look forward to celebrating the very best of BSF with our nominees and members of the BSF community later this month.”
The shortlisted projects for the Excellence in BSF Awards 2008 (listed alphabetically by local authority) are:
Best Design for a New School:
• Bristol Metropolitan College (Bristol)
• Brislington Enterprise College (Bristol)
• The Michael Tippett School (Lambeth)
Best Design for a Remodelled School:
• Community College Whitstable (Kent)
• Yewlands School (Sheffield)
• Kelmscott School (Waltham Forest)
Most Sustainable School Design:
• Bideford College (Devon)
• Highbury Grove School (Islington)
Innovation in ICT:
• Haringey
• Lambeth
• Leeds
Innovation in Student Engagement:
• Knowsley
• Nottingham City
• Tameside
Most Promising Learning Strategy:
• Knowsley
• Nottingham City
• Sunderland
Best School Team:
• Brislington Enterprise College (Bristol)
• Cockburn College of Arts (Leeds)
Best Operational LEP:
• Leeds
• Newcastle
• STaG (South Tyneside and Gateshead)
Best BSF Academy:
• South Maidstone Academies Federation (Kent)
• Milton Keynes Academy (Milton Keynes)
• Academy 360 (Sunderland)
Best Community Integration:
• Burnley Campus (Lancashire)
• Writhlington Learning Campus (Bath & NE Somerset)
• STaG (South Tyneside and Gateshead)
There will also be a special Grand Prix prize for the Most Transformational Contribution to BSF as determined by the independent panel of judges which will be announced at the awards ceremony.
Notes to Editors:
- The awards ceremony will be hosted by actor and comedian Rob Brydon in London on 26 November. More information about the awards can be found at: www.p4sawards.org.uk
- The judging panels include experts with a variety of interests in BSF and education issues, including Sir John Sorrell, Professor Stephen Heppell, Professor Tim Brighouse, Stephen Crowne (CEO of Becta), Chris Whitehead (Chair of the PPP Education Forum), Steve Grainger (CEO of the Youth Sports Trust), Richard Simmons (CEO of CABE), and Robin Nicholson CBE (Chair of the Zero Carbon Task Force).
- 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.
- 38 BSF schools have now opened, with over 1,000 secondary schools engaged in the programme, between design and delivery. More information about schools already open can be found at: http://www.partnershipsforschools.org.uk/programme/school_search.jsp
- Partnerships for Schools (PfS) is the delivery organisation 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. PfS is a 100-strong organisation, with specialist expertise including educationalists, designers, ICT specialists, commercial managers and project management.
