National schools revamp behind schedule

It is hoped that delays to the Government’s programme to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school in England will not hit Rochdale’s ambitious education overhaul.

The National Audit Office has found that the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme was up to £10 billion over budget and almost two years behind schedule.

A damning report concluded that Partnership for Schools, which was set up to deliver the programme, was “overly optimistic”.

Ministers originally said 200 schools would be open by December last year — but this figure is not forecast to be met until September 2010. The cost of BSF is also estimated to be £52billion and £55 billion, up to £10 billion more than originally forecast.

Rochdale has planned a £200million overhaul of the borough’s high schools.

Designs have now been completed on two sample projects at Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College and Siddal Moor Sports College.

The Council will now review the initial bids, looking at the cost and quality of the proposals.

One of the three bidders will be deselected in March, with the two remaining consortiums asked to then submit their final plans for the scheme.

The Council is hopeful that the final contract will be signed by November and construction begin by January 2010.