29/01/04 - Building Schools for the Future

On Tuesday 3rdFebruary in Kendal, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet will be asked to approve the approach being taken to shape and improve secondary education throughout the County by investing in buildings for the future.

The Governments Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Programme provides and excellent opportunity for this Council and the schools in Cumbria to eventually bid for money to improve the condition of Cumbrian secondary schools.

Joan Stocker, Cabinet Spokesperson for Education says

“The Governments tight timetable meant that the Council had to submit an expression of interest by 19thDecember last year.  However I must stress that nothing in that submission implies that either the County Council or the Government have made any decisions.  What we have decided to do is trust the schools and the communities to bring forward their own proposals.”

Five area consortiums of schools have been formed in the County.  These consortiums will be working to identify how best they can use the opportunity presented by the BSF funds to address the issues of surplus places, improve school facilities and raise standards.  

Cllr Stocker continues,

“It is far too early to speculate the impact of these proposals both generally and on specific schools.  The programme will not start until 2009.  The area consortiums need the space and time to develop their ideas in much the same way as they have in Carlisle over the last few months.”