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Cabinet decision on £135 million plans for secondary schools in Tamworth and Rugeley

Strategy for Change Part 2 is the second of the key documents the county has had to produce as part of the BSF process. SfC2 explains how education will be transformed in Tamworth and Rugeley by setting out the added value that the BSF investment will provide. This will be achieved through a comprehensive set of challenging, but over time realizable, performance improvements and by making better use of ICT and providing more flexibility in how teaching and learning takes place.

Under the BSF plans £100 million will be invested in Tamworth to refurbish or re-build all of the five secondary schools, including a brand new 11-16 Academy and Post 16 Centre for the town. In Rugeley the ambitious plans are to invest around £35 million and bring the two high schools and separate sixth form centre together into one learning campus with each school having its own identity but being able to share specialist resources.

Deputy County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People Ian Parry said: "The world has changed drastically since our schools were built and today's learners need different skills and to learn in different ways to be able to compete in the increasingly competitive job market. Our schools need to utilise new technologies as well as provide the facilities and the flexibility to be able to cope with these changing needs.

"In addition to better meeting the needs of the students, the new BSF buildings will also give us a fantastic opportunity to put schools at the heart of the community, providing space and facilities for a wide range of learning, cultural and leisure opportunities that can be accessed by all.

"BSF can also bring wider economic benefits to Tamworth and Rugeley; there will be opportunities for local suppliers and job opportunities and apprenticeships for local people.

"This investment gives us a once in a lifetime chance to improve the way we educate our young people but it will also inspire change and regeneration throughout our schools and into the wider community."

Find out more about the Cabinet decision on 18 November.