Revealed: The future shape of education for town...

WORK is to start on the next of Barnsley's new Advanced Learning Centres – which will eventually replace all existing comprehensive schools as part of a £1bn project.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Apr 2010, 22:19 BST
Updated 13th Apr 2010, 22:19 BST

Construction is due to start this month on centres which will replace the existing Priory and Willowgarth schools with a new campus at

Shafton, and a replacement will also be built for Springwell special school, alongside refurbishment at Greenacre special school.

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The new element of the scheme, called Barnsley Building Schools for the Future, is costing 217m. All three are expected to be finished between the summer and December next year.

Work has already started on five learning centres and it is expected the entire project will be under way before the end of the year.

They are being built by Laing O'Rourke, which will then manage them on behalf of the council for the next 25 years under a Private Finance Initiative scheme, where outside investment is used to help fund the project, with the council agreeing to a long term contract to effectively lease the buildings back.

It is expected the whole network of nine learning centres will be complete by 2013, offering opportunities for school age children and the wider community.

Related topics:BarnsleyWork