Building Schools for the Future programme cancelled by Government
Published 6th July 2010.
A message from Cllr Paul Holmes, Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Learning and Clive Webster, Executive Director for Children's Services and Learning
As you may be aware, last night Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, announced the cancellation of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future programme. This has major implications for Southampton’s schools. As a result of the Government’s announcement, we will now not be receiving the significant funding expected through this programme, which is a major disappointment for the city.
While this ends our BSF programme as it stands, there were some important points to take from the Education Secretary’s speech. Michael Gove has said that the Government is committed to a revised Capital Investment Programme for education. This is subject to an immediate review that will report to Ministers in September. We will be doing all it can to influence this process by ensuring the excellent BSF work that has happened here to date continues to be highlighted to Government.
We are keen to thank everyone who has contributed to our BSF initiative. With your help the city had developed an outstanding programme, the progress of which has been recognised as exemplary. It is for this reason that it is truly disappointing for all involved that it has not been given the opportunity to reach fruition. However, the hard work that has been done will not be lost and we will do all we can to apply it to the terms of the new Capital Investment Programme the Government intends to announce at the end of this calendar year.
Whatever the outcome of the Government’s review the city council remains committed to improving outcomes for children and young people, and supporting the outstanding work all schools do on behalf of their communities.
Further information about what happens next will be posted to our web pages during the coming days and weeks: www.southampton.gov.uk/bsf
