News and press releases

Westminster City Council's BSF programme enters second phase

(03/06/09)

Westminster City Council's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme is set to enter its second phase.

Design and build contracts worth £32 million for work at St Augustine's CE and St George's RC Schools were signed on Friday (May 22nd), with contracts for The Grey Coat Hospital set to be finalised in June.

Bouygues UK has now begun work at St Augustine's and St George's and work will start at The Grey Coat Hospital in July. This is part of the council's £152 million BSF programme to transform education provision in central London.

At St Augustine's, a new three-storey building will be constructed, with significant refurbishment to existing buildings and improvements made to the facades, as well as landscaping works to the entire site.

A new sports hall will be built on land opposite the main school, with these facilities available for local community use. The additional accommodation will enable the school to increase its capacity from 700 to 900 pupils.

A new three-storey extension to the south of St George's School will include a sports hall, changing facilities, science laboratories, classrooms and a roof top court for a variety of sports and play. A two-storey extension to the school's northern block will accommodate an additional dining area and activity hall. Once completed, there will be provision for five forms of entry and an increase in capacity from 600 to 750 pupils.

At The Grey Coat Hospital, a new contemporary styled four-storey building will be devoted to the specialist provision of art, drama and music. The new development will sit alongside substantial improvements to the outdoor sports facilities at the school, which will be available for use by the local community.

Michael O'Connor, Westminster Council's Strategic Director for Children and Young People, said: "Our aim is to provide the best possible start in life for every child in Westminster and we are very pleased to be starting the second phase of the BSF programme, which will transform education provision in Westminster. The new facilities at these schools will not only make a real difference to pupils but also the wider community."

Lionel Christolomme, Managing Director of Bouygues UK, said: "This is fantastic news for Bouygues UK and we are so pleased to be continuing our programme of BSF delivery in Westminster. The new schools have been designed to bring a huge range of benefits to the children and wider community and we are really proud to be a part of the transformational BSF programme."

Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools, said: "This latest milestone in the delivery of Westminster’s Building Schools for the Future project is good news for students, teachers and the local community who will benefit from new and improved teaching, learning and sporting facilities in the heart of the city."

Plans to transform three central London schools approved

(13/02/2009)

Extensive work to transform three central London schools has been given the go-ahead by Westminster Council.

At a meeting on Tuesday night (Feb 10), the council's planning applications sub-committee approved plans for new facilities at The Grey Coat Hospital, St Augustine's CE and St George's RC Schools.

The approved proposals are part of the second phase of the Building Schools for the Future initiative in Westminster, a £152 million programme, which is set to transform education provision in the capital.

Construction work is already underway in three schools: St Marylebone CE School, Pimlico Academy and Westminster City School. Permission was granted for:

* At The Grey Coat Hospital, a contemporary new five-storey building devoted to the specialist provision of art, drama and music.

The new development sits alongside substantial improvements to the outdoor sports facilities at the school and will be a resource for the local community.

* A new three-storey building on the main site at St Augustine's school between two existing buildings. External works include the creation of a new access ramp from Oxford Road, improvements to the facades of the existing buildings and landscaping works to the entire site. As a result of this development, and a separate application submitted to Brent Council for a new sports hall, the enlarged school will be able to accommodate 900 pupils. At present the school's capacity is for 700 pupils.

*A new three-storey extension to the south of St George's school, which will include a sports hall, changing facilities, classrooms and a roof top court for a variety of sports and play.

A two-storey extension to the school's northern block will accommodate an additional dining area and an activity hall. After the works are completed, St George's will now provide a five form entry schools for 750 pupils. The previous number was 600.

Cllr Sarah Richardson, cabinet member for children's services, said: "By teaching children in even better facilities than we have at present, Westminster Council is improving their chances for the future at a critical time in their lives and I am delighted that this work has been given the go-ahead. "These facilities will not only make a real difference to pupils in Westminster but will also benefit the wider community."

Westminster signs £152m BSF deal

(11/04/2008)

Westminster City Council has signed contracts for its £152 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme which is set to transform education provision in the heart of the capital.

Bouygues Partnership for Education and Community, is leading the building programme across all nine secondary schools in Westminster.

Construction work worth £66 million is underway in three schools: St Marylebone CE School, Pimlico School and Westminster City School.

From the summer term, the programme, a government funded scheme, will move forward with the development of the remaining six schools at an investment cost of approximately £80 million.

In addition, an all new 24 place Pupil Referral Unit will be built on the Quintin Kynaston school site, and a new unit for nursery and reception aged children will be provided for St Vincent's RC Primary School.

As well as the building works, £11 million will be invested in information and communication technology across all nine schools.

Westminster is the first of 10 wave 3 BSF projects nationally to complete a business case and sign contracts.

Head of Westminster Building Schools for the Future project, Simon Neale, said: "We want to give young people in Westminster the very best start in life and this is fantastic news for pupils, parents and staff.

"This investment will give every secondary pupil in the city a chance to learn in 21st century classrooms with an expanded and improved curriculum.

"Westminster's success in being the first wave 3 authority to sign contracts is due to all schools working together, with a shared commitment to educational improvement.

"The Council's main priority next term is to develop the proposals for the remaining six schools."

Lionel Christolomme, Managing Director of Bouygues UK, added: "This project reinforces our commitment to the Government's Building Schools for the Future initiative, this being our second scheme on the programme.

"It is a pleasure to be selected by Westminster for its BSF programme, and this continues the excellent relationship already developed with the Council over the past year."

Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnership for Schools, the government agency responsible for delivering the BSF programme nationwide, said: "This is excellent news for young people, teachers and the wider local communities in Westminster and we congratulate the Local Education Partnership on reaching this milestone.

"At its heart, BSF is about transforming education and improving the life chances for all young people and I look forward to seeing the difference that it makes in Westminster."

For previous press releases please click below:

• Press Release 1
• Press Release 2