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Funding Success for School Building Programme

Three secondary schools in Poole are set to be transformed with new state-of-the-art facilities and buildings.

Borough of Poole has been named in the latest rounds of the Government's Building Schools for the Future programme (BSF) - a rolling national programme to rebuild and invest in every secondary school in England over 15 years.

The successful bid means the Council will be able to deliver education facilities fit for the 21st century to more children and take forward exciting plans to transform and improve learning for all pupils in the Borough.
   
Poole submitted a joint bid in partnership with Bournemouth to fund projects at seven schools across the two boroughs. Following an announcement by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) , Borough of Poole can now start fully planning the refurbishment of three schools - Ashdown Technology College , Rossmore Community College and Winchelsea School .

The joint Poole-Bournemouth bid has been allocated to 'Wave Six' of the BSF programme, with work due to start from early in 2008. Securing Government funding will enable the Council to progress its Schools for the Future project - an ambitious plan to ensure all children and young people across the Borough have the best start in life. The Council's plan is for a single system of pupil transfer to secondary education at age 11.

John Nash,  Director of Children's Services, Borough of Poole, said: "I am delighted with the announcement by the DfES. It represents a major investment in schools in Poole. Ashdown Technology College will be refurbished and both Rossmore Community College and Winchelsea School will get new buildings, providing a lasting legacy for generations of children. Although 'Wave Six' of the Government's programme doesn't start until 2008, preliminary work has already been undertaken to enable us to progress our plans to change the age of transfer, which is vital for the future of children's education in the Borough."

Cllr Mike White, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Schools for the Future, said: "I welcome the decision by the DfES to name Poole in the latest 'waves' of the Government's Building Schools for the Future programme. We can now look forward to working in partnership with our neighbours in Bournemouth on this ambitious project."

Borough of Poole has already successfully secured £20 million from the Government's Targeted Capital Bid (TCB) programme to extend and refurbish Poole Grammar School , Parkstone Grammar School and Poole High School .

Ian Turner, Communications, Borough of Poole on Tel: 01202 633295