£61.5m to transform Cumbria schools as once-in-generation BSF programme continues
05 April 2010
Cumbria County Council was has been given the go-ahead to join the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls announced today [5 April] that £61.5m would be invested across the county as part of the once-in-a-generation programme to rebuild or refurbish England's entire secondary school estate. The total is indicative funding and includes £5.5m for ICT.
It means Cumbria council leaders can now start planning in detail to fast-track their most urgent building projects or deprived areas, far earlier than originally planned - with capital investment released from 2012-13.
The first seven schools in the county to benefit will be:
- Netherhall
- New Workington
- Southfield
- Stainburn
- Millom
- Whitehaven
- Mayfield
More than 100 local authorities are now in the scheme, with the vast majority due to finish their full BSF projects by 2020 and the remaining authorities in their closing stages.
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, said: "BSF is the most ambitious public building programme for decades. We are in a period when every penny of taxpayers' money is rightly scrutinised but we are right to continue with our unprecedented capital investment in schools. For too long teachers and pupils suffered because of chronic under-investment in the quality of school buildings.
"Cumbria's pupils, teachers, parents and communities will now reap the benefits of high-quality facilities for decades to come. The county will be able to target pockets of deprivation or under-performing schools sooner than was previously possible."
Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said: "Cumbria today joins more than 100 local authorities who are already actively designing, building and opening new and refurbished schools.
"BSF's progress is undeniable with building momentum rapidly month-by-month, term-by-term with superb facilities across the country transforming the way that teachers teach and young people learn."
Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools, Tim Byles, said: "Cumbria's proposals have come through a tough assessment and it is now ready to start its programme in earnest. With over 130,000 pupils and 12,000 teachers already benefiting from BSF investment the length and breadth of the country, today's announcement will ensure that even more young people and staff are given the schools that they deserve over the coming years.
"As well as delivering the new schools and facilities that local communities need, BSF is also welcome news for local employment, supporting tens of thousands of jobs on the ground in the construction and related industries.
"Over two thirds of all local authorities are now engaged in BSF and we look forward to working with Cumbria to help deliver schools fit for the 21st century, and to ensure that taxpayers get maximum value from every education pound spent."
Jill Stannard, CEO of Cumbria County Council said: "This is fantastic news. We are very pleased to have been successful with the BSF bid.
"This is a testament to the hard work of head teachers and schools in partnership with county council staff. Well done to all involved."
Notes to Editors:
The full DCSF press notice issued on 5 April 2010 can be seen at:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2010_0085
