Building Schools for the Future

Dear parents / carers,

Education Secretary Michael Gove has given the go ahead for the redevelopment of two Wandsworth secondary schools.

Southfields Community College is one of those two and will benefit from a major improvement package.

The final details are yet to be confirmed but work is expected to start in spring next year.

The projects had been on hold while the Government carried out an urgent review of the national Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Ministers were concerned that the BSF model was overly bureaucratic and failed to deliver value for money.

Leader of Wandsworth Council Edward Lister said:

“We worked very hard to develop these schemes and I’m delighted that we can now move ahead."

Executive member for children’s services Kathy Tracey said:

“This is terrific news for these two schools and the thousands of children who will benefit from a huge improvement to their learning environment."

Education Secretary Michael Gove said:

“I know how hard councils and schools have worked on these projects and I have been anxious to ensure we can do everything we can, in difficult economic times, to support the crucial work of raising educational standards. Planning for these projects is well advanced and we are keen they should proceed without further delay.

“We will also work with councils, sponsors and the construction industry to ensure we bear down on costs and bureaucracy so every new school is built in as cost-effective and efficient a way as possible, and I am delighted that they have already responded so positively to this challenge.”

Executive Headteacher Jacqueline Valin is over the moon with the news that Southfields will benefit from being redeveloped, she said:

"We started BSF in 2007 and after two years' work BSF at Southfields looked like it may not go ahead as planned, but I am delighted that we will be getting our new school."

We will keep you updated with news about the College’s BSF redevelopment so check back soon.

Below are a small selection of the archtiects projections for Southfields' new school.