Strong case for schools programme

 The council is hoping to persuade Department for Education officials that advanced plans to redevelop four Wandsworth secondary schools should be allowed to go ahead..

Yesterday (Monday), the education secretary announced major cuts to the national Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. 

The DfE has already said schemes at Burntwood School and Southfields Community College can be considered on a ‘case by case basis’ as part of the national review..

Detailed designs have already been prepared for the two schools – both of which face increasing demand for places and offer outdated teaching environments.

The council also wants the ‘case by case’ review to include plans for the remodelling of Elliott School in Putney and the construction of Saint John Bosco – a new Catholic secondary school in Battersea. Both are also at an advanced stage.  Chestnut Grove and Oak Lodge in Balham, are also two of the schools who have had their building plans stopped.

Last week the council made a decision to appoint Bovis Lend Lease Ltd as preferred bidder for the borough’s BSF programme. The appointment came ahead of schedule and marked the conclusion of an 11-month selection process which began in July 2009. 

Council leader Edward Lister said:

“We understand the national priorities and the need to reduce the budget deficit. This clearly means all areas of public spending have to come under review. 

“We will be making the case for our four most advanced projects to proceed. These are the ones that address the most pressing needs. They are the result of many months of detailed work and are now ready to move forward.”