GOOD NEWS FOR FENLAND SCHOOLS' IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME

GOOD NEWS FOR FENLAND SCHOOLS’ IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME
Plans to improve schools in the Fenland area took an important step forward this week with the approval of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Outline Business Case.

Building Schools for the Future will see significant improvements to six of Fenland’s schools - Cromwell Community College, Neale-Wade Community College, Thomas Clarkson Community College, Sir Harry Smith Community College, Meadowgate School and Fenland Junction Pupil Referral Unit.

The Outline Business Case - which has been approved by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) - sets out in detail the scope, cost, affordability, risks, procurement route and timetable of the project.

The national BSF project will see all 3500 secondary schools in England rebuilt or substantially remodelled over a 15-year period at a total cost of around £45 billion.

Schools in Fenland will be the first in Cambridgeshire to benefit, although schools across the rest of the county will be included in future ‘waves’ over the next 10 years or so. Over £100 million is available for Fenland. Subject to government approval we expect to start the first works at Neale-Wade Community College and Thomas Clarkson Community College in Spring 2010. Work should be completed on all sites by late 2013.

Coun Jill Tuck, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services said: “Approval of the Outline Business Case is a tremendous success. Cambridgeshire is the first Wave 4 authority in the country to achieve approval. This reflects great credit on the contributions from everybody who has played a part, whether directly in the project team or in the many teams across the Council who have been unstinting in their commitment to the project. We are determined to make the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity for young people in Fenland.”

Further information can be found by logging onto the BSF website: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/education/fenlandbsf

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Notes for Editors:

For further information contact BSF Project Director Kevin Manley on 01223 717902.

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