£270m funding package for school replacement programme

A FUNDING package totalling £270m is being invested in Barnsley to replace its secondary schools.

The programme represents the largest capital investment in the borough and will see all of Barnsley’s secondary schools replaced with nine new build Advanced Learning Centres (ALC).

It will also improve the town’s special schools and provide an integrated managed information computer technology service.

The Barnsley programme has been split into three phases of development.

The first phase, involving five schools, is due to become operational throughout 2011.

Work has already begun on the final phase involving the Kingstone/Holgate and Foulstone/Wombwell sites and all three ALCs that form part of this phase will be completed in September 2012.

Nationwide Commercial is acting as global agent for the programme, investing £91m, alongside Nord LB which is also providing £91m, as well as £88m from the European Investment Bank.

Barnsley Local Education Partnership’s is a Public Private Partnership. Its private sector partner, Barnsley Partnership for Learning (BP4L), is a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and John Laing.

It is investing in the project alongside the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and Building Schools for the Future Investments (BSFI).

Saul Schneider, director for partnerships solutions at John Laing, said: “It’s really heartening to see that Nationwide Commercial remained open for business even during this tough economic climate.

“The team at Nationwide clearly understands our aims and objectives as well as the sector in which we operate. We are certainly delighted to have them on board as a partner for this project and look forward to strengthening our relationship in the future.”

Bryce Glover, divisional director for Nationwide Commercial, said: “This is a very worthwhile project and one with which Nationwide Commercial is proud to be associated.”