£100 million programme could transform Tamworth's schools
Staffordshire County Council has been given the green light to bid for an early start to the Government's national £45 billion Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
BSF is the single largest investment programme in education for over 50 years and will see every secondary school in England replaced, rebuilt or renovated over the next 10-15 years. For Staffordshire, BSF will deliver approximately £750 million of investment over three phases of funding.
Whilst the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) continues to consult on the management of Waves 7 onwards, it has invited 15 specially selected authorities to have the opportunity to enter the programme 12 months earlier than expected. The DCSF is looking for a scheme that would require funding of around £100 million and only five out of the 15 authorities will be successful.
Deputy Leader, and Cabinet lead for children and young people, Councillor Robert Simpson said: "Staffordshire welcomes the opportunity to make an early start on Wave 7 of Building Schools for the Future. We have been preparing to enter the programme for over a year and officially launched Staffordshire's BSF programme at a stakeholder conference last September.
"Following detailed research and consultation we have selected the Tamworth district for our early start scheme. There are many factors making this district, above all others, the closest match to the bidding criteria set out by the DCSF.
The community in Tamworth would benefit from £100 million investment in secondary education. This would help to raise attainment levels in secondary schools and levels of participation in further and higher education."
For Tamworth, building work could begin as early as 2011. Cannock and Newcastle will be the next districts to benefit when the Government invites authorities to join the main Wave 7 programme. It is likely that Stafford and East Staffordshire will be taken up in a second phase and the Moorlands, South Staffordshire and Lichfield in a third phase for Staffordshire with all building work completed in 2021.
Corporate Director Peter Traves said: "The BSF funding will transform education in Staffordshire by creating state of the art facilities, making the best use of ICT in the learning process and creating opportunities for community engagement. The programme will also provide a mechanism for Staffordshire to look at the curriculum and patterns of education.
"There are many opportunities and benefits that will result from BSF and they will all contribute towards raising standards, aspirations and attainment for all children and young people. We will be working closely with schools and local communities to make sure this project is a success for everyone in Staffordshire."
Although Tamworth will be the first district to benefit from the ambitious programme, work will continue on consultation and planning for the other seven Staffordshire districts. Public consultation will be taking place across the whole county in the summer on the Manifesto for Change, the document that sets out Staffordshire's vision for secondary education.
Councillor Simpson added: "Staffordshire is at the start of a very exciting process and it is important that everyone who wants to has a voice. Detailed consultations are planned at every stage of the process to ensure that we get the options that best represent each district."
To find out more about BSF in Staffordshire and how to get involved in the consultation process visit our website: www.staffordshire.gov.uk/bsf
Page Last Modified:
26/03/2008 15:15:03
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