Transformation plan for Southampton schools has been agreed (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Transformation plan for Southampton schools has been agreed

11:55am Monday 25th January 2010

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THE financial plan to transform the face of secondary schools in Southampton has been agreed by councillors for Government approval.

The biggest single investment in city schools for 50 years will see three schools rebuilt and two revamped.

The Government is putting £110m towards the project as part of its Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

The council needs to find between £15m and £30m towards construction, although the precise figure is confidential, and it will make ongoing annual payments of around £1.4m for at least ten years as part of the funding arrangements.

Chamberlayne College for the Arts, Sholing Technology College and Upper Shirley High will be rebuilt under private finance initiatives. The council will enter a lengthy contract with a firm to design, build and maintain the schools. St George Catholic College and Bitterne Park will receive major refurbishments.

Councillor Paul Holmes, Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Our BSF programme is gaining momentum every day as we strive to improve education in our city.

“In the next week we will submit our Outline business Case, which, once approved, is the final document needed to unlock in-excess of £100m for the first phase of our BSF programme.”

Once the Government approves the council’s business case the authority can start to tender for its building programme. Next month it will be testing the market through an exhibition for potential national and local bidders at St Mary’s Stadium.

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