25th deal signed in BSF programme
28 November 2008
Partnerships for Schools is today marking the 25th Financial Close in the national programme to rebuild and renew England’s secondary schools estate. The London Borough of Hackney is the latest local authority to sign a contract with its private sector partner to deliver its Building Schools for the Future project, representing £167m of investment that will help transform education in local schools.
Tim Byles, Chief Executive of PfS, said: “Today’s milestone of 25 deals signed between local authorities and their private sector partners demonstrates that the programme is continues to deliver despite the challenging economic conditions in which we are operating.
“It is clear that lending conditions in the PFI market have tightened and we are working extremely hard to minimise any delays and are exploring a range of options to manage the current challenges to ensure that BSF continues to be delivered on time and on budget.
“In the week when we celebrated the achievements across all disciplines within BSF with our first ‘Excellence in BSF Awards’, I am delighted that we now have 25 projects in, or about to start, the construction phase. At its heart, BSF is about transforming education and improving the life chances of all young people through providing them with safe, welcoming and inspiring places to learn, and I look forward to seeing the difference that it makes in the London Borough of Hackney.”
The announcement of the latest deal to close came on the same day that Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Secretary of State, Ed Balls officially opened Allerton High School in Leeds accompanied by Tim Byles. Allerton High School is one of the 29 BSF schools to open this autumn term.
Notes to Editors:
- The London Borough of Hackney, mouchelbabcock education and BSFi have signed the contracts for a programme that will deliver Hackney’s BSF project. It will see six secondary schools and four special schools in the borough either refurbished or rebuilt.
- 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.
- 42 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.
- PfS announced this week the creation of a charitable Foundation that will help support the delivery of educational transformation in BSF schools across the country. The BSF Foundation will fund a blend of national and local initiatives that will help every young person identify their talents and achieve their best. Set against the backdrop of a new school environment, projects funded will support non-core curricula activities that take place in and around school – with a particular focus, but not limited to, the most disengaged and disaffected young people in the school system.
- The Foundation will be independent of PfS and Government and will be governed by an independent Board of Trustees, chaired by Sir David Bell, Chairman of the FT and Chairman of Crisis, Common Purpose and Sadlers Wells. More details will be released at the official launch in January 2009.
