Worry and confusion as BSF halted
The Government announced cuts to the £55bn Buildings Schools for the Future programme that will stop 715 secondary schools in the UK being built, including 110 in the North West.
See list below for impact on BSF schools in region
Liverpool emerged as one of the biggest losers in the cuts with 25 school projects stopped. Blackpool, Halton, Warrington and Wigan also saw significant stoppages.
Salford and Manchester, by contrast, have opened 11 and a further 45 planned schools were unaffected by the cuts.
Across the North West, 113 schools were unaffected by the cuts, 31 have already opened or are due to open this year and 21 academies remain under review on a case-by-case basis. Councils will enter into discussion with government to make the case for saving each academy under review.
The whole supply chain of architects, builders and sub-contractors that had enjoyed wave after wave of large school contracts must now look to other markets. BDP's Manchester studio worked on schools in Liverpool, Halton, Warrington, Blackpool and Cumbria. Some are built and open but others have been scrapped or placed under review. The BDP-designed Culceth High in Warrington is due to open this month but six others in the borough have been cancelled.
Gavin Elliott, director of BDP in Manchester, said: "The thing that really strikes me about the spending cuts is what bad news it is for the children involved. There are decent new schools open in Knowsley – not designed by us I hasten to add – and next door in Liverpool there are buildings in an atrocious condition, literally crumbling, that could stay like that for 20 years which is shocking."
Elliott said BDP had switched staff from commercial work to education projects two years ago when the downturn began and had hoped public spending cuts would come after the private sector work had returned.
He added: "As a practice we made the decision to diversify and also to look overseas for new markets which can hopefully make up the balance of work that has dried up here. We have an office in Abu Dhabi where a schools programme is also planned and we are bidding for that. We are looking at China which is an enormous emerging market. The Manchester studio hasn't won work there yet but other BDP studios in the UK have. The new reality is we will have to get on a plane and go and find new work."
Education Secretary Michael Gove said most local authorities that have not already signed contracts with developers to rebuild and refurbish schools will see schemes halted as part of plans to cut £7.5bn of costs over five years. Those that have already completed contract negotiations – reached financial close in trade jargon – will proceed.
There are 123 academies and 14 other prioritised 'sample projects' around the country in limbo where work is significantly advanced but no financial close has yet been reached.
Oldham Council is one such authority where a developer has been selected but financial close has not been reached. Cllr Jack Hulme, cabinet member for children and families, said: "We need time to digest this and consider the future implications for the borough as a whole.
"BSF is a key regeneration programme for Oldham Council. Having recently appointed Balfour Beatty as our preferred bidder, we understand that the Government will review whether we can proceed with the initial phase of this programme."
Hulme added: "[Monday's] announcement that the building of Academies on new sites will be reviewed may also impact on our plans and we are seeking urgent clarification. We believe we have strong arguments, particularly as two of our planned academies bring four schools together on fresh sites. We recognise that any reduction in BSF/Academies will be a blow to both the public and private sectors, and would leave us facing many challenges."
Ian Butler, head of Sheppard Robson's Manchester office, involved with schools in Trafford, Bolton and Sefton, said: "The positive view is that, while the coalition government has identified the need to change the process, they recognise that new secondary schools are still required. The process behind BSF has been identified as ineffective and bureaucratic, which there is evidence to support. However, having said that, concern is that a lot of money has been invested by the private sector in the BSF scheme; millions of pounds have been invested at risk in tendering for projects that have now been put on hold or abandoned for the moment. There will definitely be people out of work as a result. However, the biggest concern is the fact that the educational environment is now going to suffer."
In St Helens, Interserve was appointed preferred developer and began negotiations as recently as June but now also faces a waiting game to see if it can make it through the spending review.
Since 2004, around 180 schools have been rebuilt or revamped under the BSF programme in England. Building is due to start shortly in a further 231 schools. The last government planned to spend £6.5bn on investment in school buildings in 2009/10, as part of Building Schools for the Future and the Primary Capital programme. By 2023, it was estimated a total of £55bn would have been spent on the 3,500 secondary schools in England.
Blackburn
Blakewater/East Blackburn High Unaffected PFI
Darwen Vale Unaffected
Newfield – Blackburn Unaffected
Our Lady & St. John RC Arts College Unaffected
Pleckgate Unaffected PFI
St Thomas PRU Unaffected
St Wilfrid's CofE Unaffected
St.Bede's RC Unaffected
Tauheedul Islamic Girls High School Unaffected
Witton Park Unaffected PFI
Blackpool
Beacon Hill High Stopped PFI
Bispham High Stopped
Collegiate High Stopped
Grange – Blackpool Stopped
Highfurlong Stopped
Montgomery High Stopped
Palatine High Stopped PFI
Park School Stopped
St. George C of E High Stopped
Woodlands – Blackpool Stopped
Highfield High Sample – for discussion PFI
Mountford centre Sample – for discussion
St. Mary's Catholic High Sample – for discussion
Bolton
Bolton St Catherines Academy Unaffected
Essa Academy Unaffected
Kearsley Academy Academy – for discussion
Bolton Muslim Girls School Stopped
Ladybridge High School Stopped
Little Lever Specialist Language College Stopped
Rumworth Special School Stopped
Sharples School Stopped
Smithills Stopped
Westhoughton High Stopped PFI
Cheshire West and Chester
Cheshire 4 Noodford Lodge Academy – for discussion
University of Chester Church of England Academy Academy – for discussion
Cumbria
Richard Rose Central Academy Unaffected
Richard Rose Morton Academy Unaffected
The Furness Academy Unaffected
West Lakes Academy Unaffected
Mayfield Special Stopped
Millom Stopped
Netherall Stopped
New Workington Stopped
West Cumbria LC PRU Stopped
Whitehaven Stopped
Halton
Halton High School Academy – for discussion
Ashley School Stopped
Cavendish Stopped
Chestnut Lodge School Stopped PFI
Fairfield High School – (Proposed for closure) Stopped
St Peter and St Paul Catholic High School Stopped
StChad's Catholic High School Stopped
The Bankfield School Stopped PFI
The Bridge (KS3 PRU) Stopped
The Gateway (KS4 PRU) Stopped
The Heath School Stopped PFI
The Grange Comprehensive High School Sample – for discussion PFI
Wade Decon High School Sample – for discussion
Knowsley
Christ the King Catholic and C of E Centre for Learning Open (09/2009) PFI
Halewood Centre for Learning Open (06/2009) PFI
Kirkby Community LC1/LC3 Open (09/2009) PFI
Kirkby RC LC2 Open (09/2009) PFI
Knowsley Central Community LC6 Open (09/2009) PFI
Knowsley Central RC LC7 Open (01/2010) PFI
South Huyton Community LC5 Open (09/2009) PFI
Highfield SEN Unaffected
SEN at Kirkby Community LC Unaffected PFI
Lancashire
Accrington Academy Unaffected
Fulwood Academy Unaffected
Burnley Sixth form Open (09/2008) PFI
Marsden Heights Open (04/2010) PFI
Pendle Vale Open (09/2008) PFI
Pendle Vale GLD Open (09/2008) PFI
Shuttleworth Open (09/2008) PFI
Sir John Thursby Open (09/2009) PFI
Special D, Sir John Thursby Open (09/2008) PFI
Barnoldswick West Craven Stopped
Colne Park High Stopped
Colne Primet Stopped
Haslingden High Stopped
Mount Carmel RC High Stopped
Norden High Stopped
Oswaldtwistle PRU Stopped
Rhyddings Stopped
SS John Fisher & Thomas More Stopped
Tor View Stopped
Blessed Trinity Unaffected
Hameldon Unaffected PFI
Hameldon (SEN) Unaffected PFI
Unity Unaffected PFI
Liverpool
De La Salle Academy – Liverpool Academy – for discussion
Enterprise South Liverpool Academy Academy – for discussion
Lower Lee Open (09/2009)
Abbots Lea Stopped
Archbishop Beck Catholic Sports College Stopped PFI
Archbishop Blanch CofE VA High School Stopped PFI
Ashfield Stopped
Bellerive Stopped
Bluecoat Stopped
Broadgreen Stopped
Calderstones Stopped
Childwall school Stopped
Clifford Holoroyde Stopped
Fazackerley Stopped
Holly Lodge Girls School Stopped
Mill Road Stopped
Notre Dame Catholic School Stopped
Palmerston Special School Stopped
Parklands Stopped
Redbridge High School Stopped
Sandfield Park PRU Stopped
Shorefields – Liverpool Stopped
St Edwards Stopped
St Francis Xavier College Stopped
St Hildas Stopped PFI
St John Bosco Stopped
St Julies Stopped
St Margarets Stopped
Alsop Unaffected
Broughton Hall Unaffected
Cardinal Heenan Unaffected
Ernst Cookson Unaffected
Gateacre Unaffected
Hope Unaffected
King David (J) Unaffected
West Derby Unaffected
Manchester
Communications Academy Unaffected
Creative & Media Academy (Boys) Unaffected
Creative & Media Academy (Girls) Unaffected
East Manchester Academy Unaffected
Health Academy Unaffected
Manchester Enterprise Academy Unaffected
The Co-operative Academy Unaffected
Buglawton Hall Open (11/2009)
Castlefield Open (05/2010)
Cedar Mount Open (09/2008)
Meade Hill Open (11/2009)
Melland Open (09/2008)
Newall Green Open (09/2008)
North Ridge SEN – Manchester Open (02/2009)
Our Lady's RC Open (02/2009)
Piper Hill Open (11/2009)
St Pauls Open (09/2008)
St. Matthew's RC Open (01/2009)
Wright Robinson Open (09/2007)
Abraham Moss Unaffected
Barlow Unaffected
Buglawton SEN Residential Unaffected
Burnage Media Arts College Unaffected
Chorlton Unaffected
Inclusion Centre 1 – Manchester Unaffected
Inclusion Centre 2 – Manchester Unaffected
King David High Unaffected
Lancasterian Unaffected
Levenshulme [Girls] Unaffected
New Sen – Manchester Unaffected
Parrs Wood Unaffected
Southern Cross Unaffected
St. Peters Unaffected
St. Thomas Aquinas RC High Unaffected
The Grange Unaffected
Trinity C of E High Unaffected
Whalley Range High Unaffected
Oldham
Oasis Oldham Academy Academy – for discussion
The Waterhead Academy Academy – for discussion
Blue Coat CE Stopped
Crompton House Stopped
Hathershaw Tech Stopped
New BESD Special School Stopped
New Bridge Stopped
PRU – Oldham Stopped
Royton & Crompton Stopped
Saddleworth Stopped PFI
New RC School Sample – for discussion PFI
North Chadderton Sample – for discussion
Oldham Academy North Academy – for discussion
Rochdale
St Anne's Academy Unaffected
Balderstone – (Proposed for closure) Unaffected
Brownhill Special School Unaffected
Cardinal Langley RC High Unaffected
Darnhill PRU Unaffected
Falinge Park High Unaffected PFI
Heywood – (Proposed for closure) Unaffected
Hollingworth High Unaffected PFI
Holy Family VA Unaffected
Kingsway Park Unaffected
Mathew Moss High Unaffected
Middleton Tech Unaffected
Oulder Hill Community Unaffected
Redwood – ICT ONLY Unaffected
Saxon Hall PRU Unaffected
Siddal Moor Unaffected
Springhill – (Proposed for closure) Unaffected
St. Cuthberts's RC High Unaffected
Wardle Unaffected PFI
Salford
Hope Academy Unaffected
Albion Unaffected
All Hallows RC High Unaffected
Broadwalk PRU + Unaffected
Buile Hill Unaffected
Chatsworth Unaffected
Eccles & Irlam Unaffected
Grosvenor Unaffected
Harrop Fold Unaffected
Irlam & Cadishead Unaffected PFI
Moorside High Unaffected
New Park Unaffected
Oakwood High Unaffected
Oasis Media City UK Academy Unaffected
St Ambrose Barlow RC Unaffected PFI
St Georges RC High Unaffected
St Patricks RC High Unaffected PFI
Swinton High Unaffected
The Swinton High/Moorside Unaffected PFI
Walkden High Unaffected PFI
Wentworth High Unaffected
Sefton
St Wilfrid's Catholic High Stopped
Chesterfield High Stopped
Crosby High Special Stopped
Hillside High Stopped
Impact KS4 PRU Stopped
Meols Cop Stopped
Presfield Special Stopped
Savio Salesian College Stopped
St George's CE Stopped
Litherland High School Unaffected
St Helens
Hope Academy Unaffected
Sutton High Academy Academy – for discussion
Cowley Language College Open (09/2009)
Catholic Learning Campus Stopped PFI
Haydock Stopped PFI
KS3 / KS4 PRU Stopped
Lansbury Bridge Stopped
Mill Green Stopped
Penkford Stopped
Rainhill High Stopped
De La Salle – St Helens Sample – for discussion
Rainford High Technology Sample – for discussion PFI
Tameside
Droylsden Academy Unaffected
New Charter Academy Unaffected
Alder Open (04/2010)
All Saints RC Language College Stopped
Audenshaw School Stopped
Copley High School Stopped
Fairfield High School for Girls Stopped
Longdendale Language College Stopped
St Thomas Moore RC Maths & Computing College Stopped
West Hill Science College Stopped
Astley Sports Unaffected
Cromwell Unaffected
Dale Grove (KS3/PRU at Hyde) Unaffected PFI
Globe Lane (KS4/PRU) Unaffected PFI
Hyde Tech Unaffected PFI
KS3 PRU Unaffected
Mossley Hollins Unaffected PFI
New Denton Unaffected PFI
Samuel Laycock Special Unaffected
St Damians Ashton Unaffected PFI
Trafford
Trafford Academy Academy – for discussion
St. Ambrose College Unaffected
Warrington
Culcheth High School Open (07/2010)
Fox Wood Special School Stopped
Green Lane Community Special School Stopped
Lysander Community High School Stopped
Penketh High School Stopped PFI
Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School Stopped
William Beamont Community High School Stopped PFI
Wigan
Abraham Guest High School Open (04/2010)
14-19 centre Stopped
Bedford Stopped
Hindley Stopped PFI
Lowton/Golborne Stopped PFI
Westleigh Stopped
Wirral
Birkenhead High School Academy Academy – for discussion
Woodchurch High School Unaffected
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By Matt Gill
There is no compelling economic reason for these cuts. Such measures are damaging to the prospects of recovery. Only right wing zealots believe in rigorous contraction of government commitments. The government is telling a very big lie about the nature of Britain’s economic stability. Unfortunately people seem to want to believe it. There was a perfectly decent well founded proposal to reduce the national deficit by 50% in four years in place when the Coalition took office. Why is this big lie about financial crisis being told by the government not being challenged more rigorously in the news media? Only once on BBC’s News Night and last sunday in William Keegan’s Observer column has a cogent, authoritive, challenge to the boloney being purveyed by the government been given an airing. These cuts are certain to raise unemployment, demoralise teachers and parents and cutail the life chances of the children caught up in them. Resist them. Inform yourselves about the realities of Britain’s economic situation and challenge the untruth that national debt has to be paid of in full in five years.
By michael mcdowell
this sort of announcement just makes me think one thing, it finds out the good and bad councils. 25 stopped in Liverpool. 25 in Manchester unaffected. Quel surprise.
By DefCon
of all the things to cut. Heartless Tory scum
By Matt
One word: Trident
By Ol
Welcome to leader position Mr Joe Anderson 🙂
By Dave
UPDATE: adds BDP reaction
By Ed
In response to Def Con’s comments re: Liverpool Council vs Manchester Council, somebody needs to do their research a bit more! This has nothing to do with Local Authorities. Manchester was part of the Wave 1 scheme, Liverpool wave 2 which explains why Manchester has been relatively unaffected. I am currrently working on projects in the Wave 4 phase – all stopped – it has nothing to do with local authorities so stop trying to stoke up some pathetic Liv vs Manc argument and get your facts right please!
By Chris M
Chris M – as you’re such an expert can you tell us why Manchester was in wave 1 and Liverpool was in wave 2 – it doesn’t exactly dispel my point that Manchester is earlier to latch on to things than Liverpool
By DefCon
Def Con – Waves were based purely on need – schools in poorest condition went first, which explains why Manchester (and Knowsley for that matter) were in wave 1 and Liverpool wasnt. Happy to be an expert educating your mind.
By Anonymous
What will become of the building in Huyton that Christ the King Centre for Learning is housed in if it does close? I heard an interesting comment from a mother of a daughter, who attends the school, saying that it’s the government playing god with her child’s education and listening to these angry reactions it makes you wonder what on earth this so called ‘future’ school was built for in the first place? I, like many, thought it was the way forward but the Con-Dems don’t seem to think so. I just don’t get it?
By former teacher