Building Schools for the Future programme reaches financial close for Wave 4 in Essex
01/05/10 - Skanska RM were announced as the preferred bidder in February, to carry out this ambitious project with ECC, and together have brought Wave 4 of the project to financial close ahead of schedule, in just over 12 weeks.
In the next step towards completing the programme, Skanska RM and ECC will establish a Local Education Partnership (LEP) which will be set up in Essex to manage delivery of the programme and bring to life the educational vision of ECC for its secondary schools.
Councillor Stephen Castle, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education and the 2010 Games said: “We are pleased to have reached this important milestone in the Building Schools for the Future programme, which will see state-of-the-art educational facilities that will inspire learners for years to come, as we aim to increase the attainment levels in the county.”
Councillor Derrick Louis, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Major Projects and Commercial Services, said: "Building Schools for the Future brings substantial investment into Essex and we look forward to working with Skanska RM on this exciting project, which will deliver first-class learning environments and facilities to benefit the whole community."
The Essex Building Schools for the Future programme, one of the largest in the country, will be carried out in a number of phases, known as waves, and will see Skanska RM develop eight schools in the first phase (Wave 4), making world-class educational facilities and information technology available in the county to help learners reach their full potential.
Not only will the school buildings themselves be transformed, but BSF will also bring considerable investment in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), creating access to 21st century, anytime, anywhere learning opportunities which are inclusive and personalised.
Steve Cooper, Development Director, Education, for Skanska RM, said: “We’re very pleased to have reached financial close, and now look forward to focusing on the delivery of the first phase of these exciting new schools. Both Skanska and RM are proud to partner with Essex as we work together to create learning environments capable of transforming the way young people are educated in the county.”
For more details about the Building Schools for the Future and the schools included in the programme visit www.essexbsf.org
For more information contact Lorna Gott in Communications on 01245 433150 or email lorna.gott@essex.gov.uk
Notes to editors
- The Wave 4 sample schools include, Columbus, Pioneer, Cornelius Vermuyden and Castle View.
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