Schools project learns lessons from the north

1:26pm Saturday 17th May 2008

THE Building Schools for the Future team in Bridgwater has been learning how a similar project is transforming education in northern England.

The team, together with Bridgwater teachers, visited Whiston City Learning Centre in Knowsley, Liverpool, and Yewlands Technology College in Sheffield, which are part of an earlier wave of the BSF programme.

In Bridgwater, the £103million programme will see Robert Blake, Haygrove, Chilton Trinity, East Bridgwater, Elmwood and Penrose schools replaced with new buildings.

Julia Ridge, Somerset County Council's Building Schools for the Future programme director, said: "It was very interesting to hear the experiences of those who are in an earlier wave and are therefore further ahead in their journey.

"The lessons learned will be valuable to us as we move forward with this exciting programme."

The first of the Bridgwater schools is likely to be completed in 2012.