Bidder Appointed For £300m Schools Plan

Tameside is one step closer to transforming the borough’s secondary schools after appointing Inspired Spaces to deliver the £300m programme.

The council’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme is already progressing at a faster pace than many of the programmes in other authorities across the country.

The appointment of the Inspired Spaces Consortium by Executive Leader Cllr Roy Oldham in consultation with the council’s BSF Project Board, represents the launch of the new partnership between Tameside Council, Inspired Spaces Consortium and Partnerships for Schools (PfS) to rebuild, remodel or refurbish all the secondary schools in the borough.

Following the Key Decision, Cllr Oldham said: “This project represents the best opportunity to invest in our schools in generations. Not only will it transform buildings, it will also enable us to improve the educational attainment for young people, providing them with more opportunities to access education, training and employment. When the programme is complete, Tameside’s secondary schools will be the envy of other cities and towns across the country."

He added: “The BSF Programme demonstrates a clear commitment on the part of the council that no child will ever be left behind, that every young person matters, and that every young person should be helped to reach their full potential.

“The level of investment in the first wave - will be followed by every secondary school in Tameside being rebuilt, remodelled or refurbished and demonstrates our determination to become world-class in education: and have world-class schools, world-class teachers and world-class learning facilities. Building Schools for the Future will help deliver just that. It will help us build better and brighter futures for all our young people, and our communities.”

Cllr Gerald Cooney, executive member for lifelong learning, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to make this announcement. We are entering into a partnership committed to improving the way secondary education is delivered in Tameside. We have chosen our preferred bidder through a very stringent selection and scoring process, and I am confident that we are on to a winner."

The Inspired Spaces consortium will build and provide building facilities and crucial ICT services. The companies forming the consortium are Carillion, Barclays and Ramseys - who as the ICT provider will deliver nearly £25 million of ICT infrastructure.

Carillion chief executive, John McDonough, said: “We are delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder on our third major project under the BSF programme, which is a strong growth area for Carillion. I am particularly pleased that our proposals for this programme align closely with Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council’s ‘rainforest’ vision to provide transformational learning that raises the aspirations and expectations of the people of Tameside.

“Our entire team is looking forward to working closely with the Council, schools, the people of Tameside and PfS over the coming months and years. Our goal is to establish an educational environment that is second to none, to inspire learners and teachers alike and enhance the educational opportunities for the people of Tameside. We can't wait to get started."

The council will now form a Local Education Partnership (LEP) with the Inspired Spaces Consortium and Partnership for Schools; this is the body responsible for the delivery of the BSF programme. The LEP will be a long-term partnership that undertakes to build or renew schools and maintain them properly over their lifetime.

BSF will transform the borough’s secondary schools and create better educational facilities by the end 2011. It represents the biggest investment in the borough’s schools since Victorian times. Work is due to start in July 2008 at the four schools in phase one of the BSF programme. The sample schools are the new Ashton Academy, Samuel Laycock, Mossley Hollins, and St Damian’s. The remaining wave of schools will be delivered in a further phases over the next seven years.

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Services for Children and Young People Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne Lancs OL6 6DL View local map
0161 342 3238