Partnerships for Schools (PfS) has marked the 25th financial close in the national programme to rebuild and renew England’s secondary schools estate.

The London Borough of Hackney is the latest local authority to sign a contract with its private sector partner to deliver its Building Schools for the Future project, representing £167m of investment that will help transform education in local schools.

PfS chief executive Tim Byles said the milestone demonstrates the programme’s growth within the challenging economic climate.

“[The] milestone of 25 deals signed between local authorities and their private sector partners demonstrates that the programme continues to deliver despite the challenging economic conditions in which we are operating.

“It is clear that lending conditions in the PFI market have tightened and we are working extremely hard to
minimise any delays.

“At its heart, BSF is about transforming education and improving the life chances of all young people through providing them with safe, welcoming and inspiring places to learn, and I look forward to seeing the difference that it makes in the London Borough of Hackney.”

Over a five-year period, six secondary schools and four Special schools in the borough will be either refurbished or rebuilt. The schools will benefit from a comprehensive facilities management process while a £9.6m investment in ICT (Information and Communications Technology) will allow each school to use state-of-the-art ICT equipment.

Building work on all three schools within the Hackney programme began this summer and handover of the first building at Clapton Girls’ Technology College will be completed to programme in February 2009.

Cllr Rita Krishna, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said Hackney’s children and young people deserve the best of teaching and learning and the best of environments in which to pursue their goals. Our strong partnership will help us to deliver modern and fit-for-purpose facilities, which will serve the whole community. We have a shared vision for children, as articulated in ‘Every Child Matters’ for all children to be healthy, safe, to enjoy and achieve, to be recognised for making a positive contribution and to achieve economic wellbeing.”

Mouchel/Babcock – a consortium of Mouchel Parkman and Babcock Education will deliver the £167m scheme. Bid director Simon Treglown said: “We are delighted to have reached Financial Close with the London Borough of Hackney and look forward to continuing our work with all of the schools in the programme alongside the council and The Learning Trust. We are confident that in partnership we can design and build schools that will be better places for Hackney children to achieve their aspirations. Mouchel/Babcock Education is committed to supporting continuing improvements in Hackney schools over the next ten years.”

THE FIRST PHASE OF THE HACKNEY PROGRAMME INCLUDES:

• Clapton Girls’ Technology College and Stoke Newington School for Media & Arts – both part new build and part
refurbishment projects
• Hackney Free & Parochial CE School – a complete new build project