58 BSF schools now open as four more open their doors for the summer term
21 April 2009
Four more Building Schools for the Future (BSF) schools have opened their doors this month in Durham, Lambeth, Leicester and Lewisham, bringing the total number of BSF schools now open nationwide to 58.
Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools, the government agency responsible for delivering the BSF programme, said: “With 58 BSF schools now open across the country the national programme to rebuild and renew secondary schools is gaining momentum.
“BSF schools are not just for students and staff; the range of state-of-the-art facilities and resources on offer year-round ensures that BSF schools are at the heart of the communities they serve. Co-location of wider services are a huge part of this with everything from libraries, gyms, sports pitches, climbing walls, theatre spaces, business and ICT suites through to health and social services, nursery provision, conference facilities, and multi-faith centres accessible by all members of the local community.
“BSF is now giving many young people a fresh start and the chance to re-evaluate what they want to do with their lives by providing 21st century learning environments in which they can flourish and reach their full potential. I look forward to following the progress of the learners in Durham, Lambeth, Leicester and Lewisham as they settle into their new surroundings.”
The four BSF schools to open this week are:
Durham Johnston Comprehensive School, Durham
Durham Johnston Comprehensive School is the first BSF school to open as part of Durham’s BSF programme. Bringing the school’s two sites together, the £25 million rebuild has transformed and expanded the Crossgate Moor site to accommodate: separate teaching blocks, a sports hall and a dining and assembly hall for nearly 1,500 students and staff.
Stockwell Park High School, Lambeth
The new build replacement and expansion of Stockwell Park High School in the London Borough of Lambeth provides 1,200 places, a 15-place Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) unit and post-16 places. The school, designed by Sheppard Robson and built by Willmott Dixon, received an overall ‘excellent’ rating for architecture and build environment from the Committee for Architecture and Built Environment (CABE).
Beaumont Leys School, Leicester
Opening six weeks ahead of schedule and part of Leicester’s BSF programme, the school now has a centre-piece Inclusion Suite which increases the provision for students with Special and Additional Educational Needs. The building has also received an ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating which recognises its environmental credentials.
Catford High School, Lewisham
Students and staff at Catford High School, an 11-16 business and enterprise college in the London Borough of Lewisham, will also benefit from new state-of-the-art learning facilities. Facilities include a 24/7 Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and an Immersive Room with an interactive video wall.
Notes to editors:
- 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 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. www.partnershipsforschools.org.uk
- The National Audit Office report into BSF, published in February 2009, stated that the programme is now being well managed and that PfS is keeping costs under control. It added: “BSF schools have been built to a higher specification and space standards than previous schools”
