Southwark BSF projects will all go ahead, despite government cuts

More than 12 schools in the borough are set to be built, rebuilt or refurbished at a value of £200 million under the government's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project. 

Last week education minister Michael Gove announced that some 715 schools across the country will see their rebuilding projects cancelled.

However, in what is being hailed as a major achievement for the team behind Southwark schools for the Future, the council has received confirmation from the government that the secondary school projects in the borough are moving forward. 

Catherine McDonald, Cabinet Member for Education, said: "This is fantastic news for the borough. Over the last five years, Southwark schools have moved from being some of the poorest performing in London to some of the best in the country. Overall, around two-thirds of our schools are good or outstanding, including most of our maintained secondary schools. It is our aim to make every school in Southwark an outstanding school.

"Our vision has always been to give our pupils the buildings to match their ambition. Every parent and teacher knows that a good school environment is one of the key building-blocks for improving attainment. I am delighted to see that our secondary school projects are going ahead. Crucially this covers the full range of schools - from special schools, to academies, to comprehensives. This is great news for all our residents." 

"This is in no small part down to the work of the team that has been planning the projects. The nationally acclaimed Southwark Council team has effectively and efficiently moved through the process to create a local education partnership with private sector partner Balfour Beatty to deliver all the projects, which means that everything is in place for the work to go ahead."  

Pamela Fennell, Programme Director for 4 Futures, Southwark's local education partnership, said: "We are very pleased that our work over the past year on behalf of Southwark schools and the wider Southwark community will not go to waste. Our team of private sector, council and school colleagues will continue working together to deliver the fantastic buildings that Southwark students and staff deserve."

BSF overview

Project history

2005, work on Southwark Schools for the Future secondary programme started in Southwark

2008, Balfour Beatty Capital appointed selected bidder for Southwark's local education partnership (which will build and provide services for the schools). 

2009, 4 Futures (local education partnership) established

2009, Tuke & St Michaels (phase 1) started on site

2009, design work on phase 2 schools started

2010, planning permission granted for Sacred Heart School, St Thomas the Apostle College, Spa School and a brand new school for Walworth

Southwark schools for the future projects unaffected by funding cuts:  

• St Michaels Catholic School
• Tuke School
• St Thomas the Apostle College
• Sacred Heart School
• Spa School
• New School - Aylesbury
• St Michael and All Angels Academy
• Highshore School
• Bredinghurst School
• Notre Dame School
• St Saviours and St Olaves School
• New School - Rotherhithe
• The Southwark programme also includes:
• Charter School (ICT project only)
• Southwark Inclusive Learning Service Key Stage 3 (Pupil Referral Unit)
• Southwark Inclusive Learning Service Key Stage 4 (Pupil Referral Unit)

Note

Southwark Council has been advised by Partnerships for Schools, the central government agency responsible for BSF, that all the projects are safe.