Work has started on the first phase of an ambitious £1billion plus scheme which will transform secondary and special education in Barnsley. Barnsley’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme has reached financial close for the first phase of the programme forming a Local Education Business Partnership with its private sector partner Barnsley Partnership for Learning (BP4L), a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and John Laing. BP4L has been selected to deliver a complete transformation of educational facilities throughout the borough alongside ICT partner Civica. In addition, John Laing Integrated Services will provide facilities management services on the PFI and the Design and Build Schools over the 25 year concession.

It is the largest single investment made by Barnsley Council and is a significant part of the national Building Schools for the Future initiative, the biggest educational building venture in western Europe. The Barnsley programme represents the largest ever capital investment in the borough and is unique across the country. Nine iconic Advanced Learning Centres (ALCs) and two special schools will be built over coming years, with the first five due to open in 2011 - Carlton (January); Dearne (January); Darton (February); Kirk Balk and Penistone Grammar School (Easter).

They will be followed by Greenacre, Springwell and Priory/Willowgarth with Foulstone/Wombwell, Kingstone/Holgate and St Michael’s completing the programme by 2012/13.

Each new school will cost between £25million and £30million with much of the funding coming from the council’s and schools’ own resources and additional funding from others, including central government.

The new educational facilities will feature state of the art physical and virtual facilities for Barnsley’s secondary and special pupils, adult learners, teachers, support staff and others involved in the teaching and learning environment. Specifically, the programme will deliver flexible learning spaces with greatly enhanced ICT provision, including better access to data and resources and a wider spread of portable devices, as well as modern learning resources, social facilities, circulation and social spaces, and vastly improved sports and leisure facilities.

Cllr Linda Burgess, Cabinet Spokesperson for Children, Young People and Families said “These will be state-of-the-art schools for our secondary and special school youngsters, which will provide not only outstanding learning environments, but will benefit the community as a whole and transform the landscape.

“We will have the facilities in place to enable students to access every diploma route and achieve their ultimate ambitions. We are saying to those youngsters: We want to invest in you and your future.”

Edna Sutton, Executive Director for Children, Young People and Families “This is the climax to six years work and represents a bold educational vision which will give Barnsley the best schools in the country.

“Our BSF programme is totally transformational and will bring fantastic benefits for everyone in Barnsley for generations to come. Each ALC will be a beating heart of its community as it opens its doors, not only to learners of all ages and interests, but as a leisure facility for use by everyone in the area. Conference, cultural events, sporting facilities and even simply a place to socialise will add enormously to the richness and variety of community life. Our desire is to transform the aspirations and life chances of everyone in Barnsley.”

Stephen Beechey, speaking on behalf of Barnsley Partnership for Learning, said: "We are extremely excited to be a partner in delivering this life changing commitment. BP4Lis dedicated to building long term strategic partnerships and has enjoyed building a strong working relationship with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council throughout the bid process."

Tim Byles, chief executive of Partnership for Schools, the government agency responsible for the programme across the country, said it will deliver “cutting edge design” in three phases with all the ALCs in Barnsley currently planned to be built and open by 2012/13.

“This programme is not just about bricks and mortar. New and refurbished schools make a positive difference to the lives of young people and to their communities.”