Building Schools for the Future
The organisation charged with delivering a massive £167million investment in Hackney’s schools has been announced.
The consortium mpb education has been selected by the Council to manage its ambitious Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
This will see every secondary and special needs school in the borough rebuilt or refurbished by 2015.
Each school will have state of the-art IT equipment and comprehensive new facilities, under the project developed by the Council in partnership with The Learning Trust.
The first phase of work is due to begin in 2008 at Clapton Girls’ Technology College, Hackney Free and Parochial CE School and Stoke Newington School for Media and Art.
This is being paid for through Government funding, with a £20m investment by the Council.
Cllr Rita Krishna, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “The selection of mpb signals the start of a new era in education for children in Hackney. mpb shares the Council’s vision to provide our children with high quality education, delivered in the best buildings with the best facilities.
“The BSF programme will help ensure that Hackney children have the same opportunities as others to do well in later life.”
Two consortia were shortlisted for the high-profile contract: Mouchel Parkman Babcock Education (mpb education) and Bouygues Partnership for Education and Community.
Both were judged to have submitted excellent bids, however mpb was considered most able to realise Hackney’s aspirations to further support the excellent success of its schoolchildren whose GCSE results are improving year on year.
mpb Bid Director, Simon Treglown, said: “mpb education is delighted to have been appointed preferred bidder having enjoyed the last year of engagement with Hackney schools.
“We look forward to working with the schools, Council and Learning Trust to design and build schools which will be better places for Hackney children to learn in and to achieve their aspirations.”
mpb is continuing to consult with schools in advance of the creation of a Local Education Partnership (LEP) consisting of the Council, Learning Trust and mpb.
Partnerships for Schools (PfS) is the government agency responsible for delivering the BSF programme nationally.
Tim Byles, PfS Chief Executive, said: ”We congratulate Hackney on nominating their selected bidder, which is great news for the national BSF programme and even better news for the school children and communities of Hackney.
“The new and improved buildings, facilities and technology will have an enormous impact on education and the life chances of every child in the area.”
Page updated: 13 Aug 2008