The competition to find a construction partner for Southampton’s multi-million pound secondary school building programme is underway.

The third and final part of the city's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) business plan has been approved. This allows the council to put its programme to rebuild or refurbish five secondary schools out to tender. The council has also secured approval to add three ‘ICT only’ schemes to the first wave of its programme, seeing eight schools in total benefit in this £110 million phase of BSF.

"This project is a major investment in Southampton’s students, school staff and communities," said BSF and Academies Programme Director, Karl Limbert. "Securing support for our business plan means that we can now start the real job of turning ideas into designs and, ultimately, the school buildings Southampton deserves.


"Many of our teachers are crying out for new facilities and ICT. They see BSF as an opportunity to create 21st Century spaces for learning to match the talent and expertise of their staff. For students, this is a chance to go to school in surroundings they feel inspired by and that support the different ways they like to learn."

The city council has issued an OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) notice inviting construction companies to enter a competition to build Southampton’s secondary schools. Bidders have 30 working days to register their interest. Over the next year, a shortlist of candidates will work with the council and its Sample Schools - Chamberlayne College for the Arts and St George VA Catholic College - to produce their bids.

Whichever company is selected as the preferred bidder will have the chance to build five secondary schools and provide ICT to a further three. They will also be in line to continue the second phase of Southampton’s BSF programme, which includes a further two secondary schools and up-to four special schools. Funding for the second phase of the project will be agreed in a future Government spending review.

(CD/GK)