New school building plans provide boost for communities across England
30 November 2009
Twelve projects across England - from Darlington in the north to Plymouth in the south - have today been given the go ahead to rebuild or refurbish secondary schools in their area as part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
The 12 projects are: Brent, Darlington, Devon, Havering, Kingston & Croydon, Lancashire, Norfolk, Plymouth, Sefton, Tameside, Wakefield, and Warrington. Each of these will embark on their BSF schemes between January and March 2010.
The authorities were confirmed following a rigorous selection process in which they demonstrated they were ready to hit the ground running with their projects to renew the secondary schools estate in their area.
In its new capacity as the delivery organisation for all capital investment programmes, Partnerships for Schools has also confirmed funding for three local authorities to progress their plans for local delivery of the primary capital programme. Hammersmith & Fulham, Leicestershire and Medway have had their Strategy for Change submissions signed off, guaranteeing additional funding for 2010-11.
Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools, said: “With over 110,000 pupils already benefitting BSF investment, today’s announcement will boost this growing figure over the coming years.
“As well as delivering the new schools facilities that teachers and pupils deserve to every community, BSF will also help safeguard tens of thousands of jobs on the ground in the construction and related industries.
"Teachers, parents and pupils in the 129 schools already open throughout England bear witness to the positive difference that BSF is making in their local community. Building on the work already done, we will work in partnership with these new authorities - both through the BSF and Primary Capital programmes - to ensure that this experience and impact is replicated across the country.
“We look forward to working with the local authority teams nationwide to help deliver schools fit for the 21st century, and to ensure that taxpayers get maximum value from every education pound spent.”
Today’s announcement sees up to a further £1bn of funding committed to schools around the country. The 10 projects new to BSF will share up to £800m of funding enabling them to bring forward their first batch of secondary schools to rebuild or refurbish, meaning that local authorities are able to start their BSF schemes earlier than had previously been thought. Lancashire and Tameside local authorities, who are already in the BSF programme, can begin on the next stage of their projects.
The second half of the BSF programme kicked off in July 2009 with the first cohort in a series of ‘rolling starts’ for the 70 local authorities yet to join BSF or start follow-on projects, and a timetable for up to 18 projects to start within the financial year 2009-10.
Momentum has built quickly this year with 129 schools benefitting from BSF investment now open, more than double the number in December 2008; and 45 deals have now reached financial close with more expected before the end of 2009. Current projections are for 115 BSF schools to open in 2009/10 and 165 in 2010/11, with over 200 schools expected to open each year from 2011 onwards.
Notes to Editors:
- PfS is the government’s delivery agent for the full suite of capital investment programmes into schools, helping ensure that taxpayers get the best value from every education pound spent.
- PfS is responsible for the delivery of around £8bn investment into education until 2011– through Building Schools for the Future; the Academies programme; the Primary Capital Programme; and the Devolved and Targeted Capital Programmes.
- Ten of the projects announced today are new to BSF, with Lancashire and Tameside repeat projects which first started the first phase of its BSF project in Wave 3 (January 2006).
- Building Schools for the Future is the largest capital investment programme for 50 years that will provide world-class teaching and learning environments for all pupils, teachers and communities in England. Over the lifetime of the programme, BSF will help improve the life chances of 3.3m children every year.
- Around a third of all secondary schools in England are now involved in the BSF programme.
- The Primary Capital Programme (PCP) will renew at least half of all primary schools in England by 2022/23, bringing them up to 21st century standards with wider services for children and families at the heart of their communities.
- Already 13 new build schools and 14 major refurbishments to schools have been delivered this September through the Primary Capital Programme. More than 90 per cent of the 47 pathfinder projects will be completed during the course of the academic year 2009/10.
