Work has started in Barnsley on a new secondary school designed by Lathams, as part of a £300m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme.
Lathams is part of the Barnsley Partnership for Learning (BP4L), a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and John Laing. As the team’s Design Champion, Derek Latham led four other, nationally recognised education architect practices in designing four ‘sample’ schools upon which the bid was initially chosen.
Now, with financial close being reached for the first stage of the programme, work has started on five of the 11 schools which will be delivered through the scheme - nine Advanced Learning Centres or ALCs, and two special schools.
Derek Latham said: “The whole partnership team is delighted to have secured Financial Close, and to be able to start creating a new generation of learning environments across the Barnsley area.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create centres for learning and community which are truly fit for education in the 21st century.”
Lathams education architects are creating a new school on the existing hilltop site of Darton High School, a 1,350 pupil secondary community school which is visible from the M1 motorway. The design concept includes four learning pavilions attached to a central triple height atrium containing the community, resource, and performance spaces.
Derek added: “Our designs for Darton are based on an approach which is rooted in the context of the learner, fashioning spaces around the user using FF&E, spatial planning, flexibility and adaptability, to meet the demands of changing pedagogy and transformational learning. “
All of the new educational facilities being built by the partnership will feature state of the art physical and virtual facilities for Barnsley’s secondary and special pupils, adult learners, teachers, support staff and others involved in the teaching and learning environment.
Each of the ALCs will cost between £25 million and £30 million with Government BSF funding supplemented from the council’s own resources.
Working with BP4L will be ICT partner Civica. In addition, John Laing Integrated Services will provide facilities management services on the PFI and the design and build schools over the 25 year concession.
Tim Byles, chief executive of Partnership for Schools, the Government agency responsible for BSF, said it will deliver “cutting edge design” in three phases with all the ALCs in Barnsley currently planned to be built and open by 2012/13.
Stephen Beechey, speaking on behalf of Barnsley Partnership for Learning, said: “We are extremely excited to be a partner in delivering this life changing commitment.
“BP4Lis dedicated to building long term strategic partnerships and has enjoyed building a strong working relationship with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council throughout the bid process.”
