Students viewing the plans.

BSF plans to be unveiled

Staffordshire's Building Schools for the Future schools in Tamworth and Rugeley are reaching the next phase in development with the submission of outline planning applications on November 6.

The draft designs will be unveiled to the public for the first time at open evenings to be held on November 2 at Torc Campus in Tamworth and on November 4 at the Aelfgar Sixth Form Centre in Rugeley.

Applications are being submitted for Belgrave High School, Rawlett Community Sports College, Queen Elizabeth's Mercian School and Wilnecote High School in Tamworth, as well as for a new campus in Rugeley to bring Fair Oak Business and Enterprise College and Hagley Park Sports College together in the same location.

Outline planning status means that in principle it is possible to build a development of an approximate size and scale on a particular piece of land and the applications will not include final designs which will come later.

Deputy County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People Ian Parry said: "I want to reassure the communities of Tamworth and Rugeley that the outline planning applications that will be submitted shortly are draft designs. This investment will provide great benefits to the schools in terms of facilities but this has to go hand in hand with strengthening our educational provision. The focus at this stage needs to be on what changes we need to make to improve the way we educate our young people."

Speaking on behalf of the Tamworth Head teachers' Panel, which represents mainstream schools, special schools and the Pupil Referral Unit, Simon Turney said: "I would like to pay tribute to the professionalism and commitment of colleagues who have put the interests of their students at the forefront of their plans. We have all, both individually and collectively, worked hard to ensure that draft plans for the development of our schools reflect the needs of future learners and their communities. Whilst educational change cannot be entirely driven by buildings, the buildings can enhance provisions and opportunities for lifelong fulfilment."

Executive Headteacher of the Rugeley secondary schools Mark Sutton said: "I really believe that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will re-energise and regenerate our local community. We have been working closely with the architects on the Rugeley Learning Campus concept which we believe will provide the best possible learning environment for our students. The next stage is for us to get feedback from the community at the Outline Planning Application Open Evening."

The open evenings are drop in sessions for anyone who is interested in the future of secondary education in Tamworth and Rugeley and residents that live close to the schools to come along and talk to the architects and county council representatives about these exciting new developments.

More information about the open evenings can be found on the BSF website at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/bsf

Page Last Modified: 28/10/2009 09:58:46

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