Durham

Transforming Education in County Durham

The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme is a major government initiative aimed at rebuilding and renewing school facilities so that every secondary school in England has 21st century facilities.

This transformation programme is aimed at improving every aspect of teaching and learning, as well as providing integrated services to families and pupils so they can take full advantage of the county’s educational opportunities.

In County Durham, BSF will mean an investment of approximately £500 million to create better secondary and special schools in which to teach and learn. There will be an initial investment of over £110m to rebuild / remodel buildings, and provide new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for seven secondary schools, one Special Needs School and one Primary School.

inspiredspaces was announced as the chosen partner for the Durham BSF project in August 2009 and is the private sector partner in the Local Education Partnership (LEP) to work alongside Durham County Council and Building Schools for the Future Investments. This partnership will create radically improved school environments and educational climates and by working closely together will create a transformational step change for learners and communities with the County.

The Vision for the Future

Due to age and configuration, current school buildings in County Durham struggle to cope with the needs of 21st century learning and this impacts on the ability to improve education for everyone. All the new and remodelled buildings will be flexible environments which can adapt to future models of curriculum and school organisation.

These schools will be very different from the ones they will replace in order to transform education. They will be light and airy with natural ventilation and will be more accessible by pupils with disabilities.  They will be suitable for the delivery of a modern curriculum with spaces which will support and adapt to new ways of teaching and learning, and they will each accommodate new ICT installations and equipment.

The Partnership

The partnership will deliver the programme of rebuilding/remodelling all of County Durham’s secondary schools in 3 principal waves.

Phase 1 of the first wave is already in construction with new schools being built for Sedgefield Community College, Shotton Hall Secondary School and Shotton Hall Primary School, and a remodelled school being constructed for Easington Community College. Phase 2 of this first wave will see remodelled schools being built for St Bede’s Catholic Comprehensive School, Dene Community School of Technology, Glendene School and Community Arts College and Wellfield Community School. Construction work on these schools is due to commence during mid 2010 / early 2011.

The partnership will next deliver further new / remodelled schools in County Durham in two subsequent waves. These waves will address all the remaining secondary schools in the County and will include new academies, new and remodelled schools, and the installation of new ICT infrastructure and equipment.

Together the partnership will deliver all aspects of the BSF process from inception to completion, helping transform education in County Durham through the delivery of radically improved school environments and educational climates.

The Opportunity

Commenting, Carillion chief executive, John McDonough said: “The major investment being made in Durham will provide the County with over 40 outstanding schools. We look forward to building strong and successful relationships with Durham and its head teachers and their staff in order to provide the facilities they need to delivery a first class learning experience for students.”