Overview
The BSF programme will provide modern school buildings and facilities, which will give children and local people access to first class educational opportunities.
In County Durham, it is expected that around £400 million will be spent on providing school facilities for all learners to match their needs in the 21st Century.
This is a 10 to 15 year programme that will result in the complete rebuilding of around a half of the nation’s schools. The remaining schools will be remodelled or refurbished depending on the condition and needs of the individual school.
BSF in County Durham
County Durham has 36 secondary schools, most of which were designed in the 1960s to meet the educational needs of learners at that time. Since then education, and the needs of people in County Durham, has moved on.
Teaching methods have changed; the economy and needs of employers have changed; Information Technology has revolutionised learning within schools and many school buildings now show their age. Their design limits teachers' ability to offer children modern, exciting and flexible ways to learn.
BSF will create first class secondary schools to meet 21st century needs, responding to the social and economic problems within County Durham. Schools will be at the heart of local communities, providing opportunities for family and lifelong learning, community, cultural and sporting activities.
BSF is split into four phases in County Durham. Around £100 million will be spent in each of the phases in East Durham and Sedgefield Village; South Durham; West Durham and North/Central Durham.
When Will It Happen?
In November 2004, the Government announced that Durham County Council is included in the third wave of BSF. In 2005, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) announced the first of four phases of development in County Durham. This starts with secondary schools in East Durham and Sedgefield village, with an estimated capital investment of £105 million. In 2006 it was announced that the second of the four phases in County Durham, South Durham would be included in wave 6 of investment. The rest of the County - Derwentside, West Durham, Chester-le-Street and Durham City will follow in waves 7-12 of the 16 wave national programme.
Transforming the County's schools will take some time. Building work will not start until 2009 and the programme could last ten years after that.
What Does It Involve?
The DCSF has outlined a step-by-step planning process. This includes:- The production of the County Durham Vision – Perspective of Educational Transformation
- A Strategy for Change (SfC) - formally known as Strategic Business Case (SBC)
- An Outline Business Case (OBC)
- A Final Business Case (FBC)
Links and More Information
www.p4s.org.uk - Partnership for Schools websitewww.bsf.gov.uk - Government website for Building Schools for the Future
www.cabe.org.uk – The Commission for the Built Environment’s website
Contact the BSF Team
Timeline
Phasing information
