Works begins on schools transformation

THE FIRST cuts have been made on the £370m transformation of schools in Wolverhampton.

Large chunks of the Government’s ‘Building Schools for the Future’ (BSF) programme were either modified or scrapped altogether across the region earlier this month.

However, the planned programme of development and regeneration in Wolverhampton came out unscathed meaning the project’s chosen developer inspiredspaces has been able to begin work.

inspiredspaces is a company set up by Wolverhampton-based support services group Carillion and its joint venture partners to deliver projects for the BSF programme.

The Government’s decision to change BSF created a mire of legal and contractual uncertainties , according to law firm Pinsent Masons.

Wolverhampton city schools chief Cllr Claire Darke said: “This is the biggest educational transformation project ever seen in Wolverhampton and will provide learning environments that engage and inspire young people, their teachers and the wider community.

“After working extremely hard to develop the vision, it is excellent news that local people will soon begin to see the first physical signs of improvement in the city and surrounding areas.

“The Building Schools for the Future programme will also play a crucial role in the ongoing £4bn regeneration of Wolverhampton by developing long-term skills and training provision and creating hundreds of jobs in the local construction sector.”

The first stages of the Wolverhampton project will see a new joint building for Highfields Science Specialist School and Pennfields Special School while extensive refurbishment of the King’s Church of England School in Tettenhall will also be carried out.

Tettenhall Wood Special School will eventually move onto the site and there will be new specialist areas and hydrotherapy facilities.

It is due for completion by September 2012 and will pave the way for the rebuilding or refurbishment of a further 22 schools and two new academies in five phases between now and 2014.

Pic: Wolverhampton Mayor Cllr Malcolm Gwinnett and the leader of Wolverhampton City Council Cllr Neville Patten with pupils from King’s Church of England School and Tettenhall Wood Special School.