THE transformation of Southampton’s Schools is a step closer after the Government approved the City Council’s vision for the future of education.
Half of the city’s ten secondary schools are in line to benefit from the £80m promised to Southampton through the Building Schools for the Future programme, which should ultimately see seven of them rebuilt or remodelled.
It is hoped the overhauled buildings will help raise standards and improve attendance amongst the city’s schoolchildren.
The project also aims to create new community facilities, regenerating neighbourhoods, and provide opportunities to support local businesses, create jobs and attract innovative industries to the city.
As part of the scheme, Southampton City Council has had to show the Government how the programme will help achieve those benefits.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has now approved the city’s goals, giving the green light to move to the next stage in turning those hopes into reality.
Council Cabinet member for education, Councillor Paul Holmes said: “These are exciting times for Southampton’s schools and a chance for them and the council to make a real difference to the way young people learn."
The first five schools to benefit from BSF money will be Bitterne+Park+School">Bitterne Park School, Chamberlayne College for the Arts, St George Catholic College, The Sholing Technology College and Shirley+High">Upper Shirley High School. The other five mainstream schools and three special schools will be included in the second wave of the project, with three to receive investment in ICT.
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