| Documents are arranged in order of publication.
Where undated documents are referenced they are placed where
they appear to fit logically based on the source. Additions
and corrections to this document are welcome. To make corrections
or obtain the latest version of this document please visit
the Northumberland Education Action Group website at www.neag.info. |
| 15 July 2003 |
Capital available through Building Schools for
the Future is intended for investment in geographical areas.
Each area will comprise a group of secondary schools, including
all schools or units which teach secondary pupils, including
pupils with special educational needs. This includes, for example,
maintained secondary schools, secondary voluntary aided schools,
middle-deemed secondary schools, special schools, pupil referral
units, non-maintained special schools, academies, and city
technology colleges.
Source: Building Schools for the Future, Guidance to Local Education Authorities
dated 15 July 2003 |
| 23 July 2003 |
the process focuses on secondary schools. Middle Schools
in Northumberland will be classed as “secondary” as
they provide Key Stage 3 curriculum; this method is aimed at
secondary schools across Northumberland and not targeted at
specific areas such as Ashington or Berwick
Source: Scrutiny Committee: Strategy Report of the Private Finance Initiative
Working Group chaired by Cllr Jeans and including Cllr Weightman with advice
provided by Ms. C. Dent of PricewaterhouseCoopers |
| |
Undated The Council would have to contribute funding to make
the necessary improvements/replacements of the facilities in
the 45 middle schools which relate to primary age pupils (half
the number of pupils)
Source: Questions and Answers – Changing to one age of Transfer |
| 4 Aug 2003 |
The LEA have in mind an innovative flagship project that
would see the establishment of a Learning Park comprising a
combined high school for Ashington (circa 1850 students) and
a replacement college (Northumberland College and the LSC are
upbeat about obtaining capital to meet their needs). This would
replace two existing High Schools within the town. The LEA
believe that it will be difficult to make a case for major
funding under BSF in the first two or three years.” Later
it is stated that “It was suggested that the LEA might
want to consider including the “Middle” schools
in Ashington in the project as well. Otherwise they might have
to wait a very long time until they could be upgraded. (Middle
schools are treated as being secondaries)
Source: Minutes of Building Schools for the Future meeting 4 August 2003 |
| Undated Sept 2003? |
“The major catalyst for developing a new approach to
school organisation in Northumberland has come through the
opportunity to express an interest in Building Schools for
the Future (BSF), which is the government’s new initiative
for developing 21st Century learning environments for every
secondary school in the country. As such the scheme cuts across
the present pattern of school organisation as the scheme applies
only to KS3 and KS4 pupils.”
Source: Options Document draft |
| 12 December 2003 |
"The "Building Schools for the Future" programme
applies to children of secondary school age, 11+, and so, in
Northumberland it is only relevant to part of our middle school
population and the high schools across the County."
Letter to all parents from Brian Edwards |
| 24 January 2004 |
This document sets out possible options based on the premise
that the age of transfer in Northumberland will be at 11 years
of age reflecting the outcome of the last round of consultation
and the requirements of Building Schools for The Future.
Source: Options Document dated 24 January 2004 |
| 16 March 2004 |
The ‘Building Schools for the Future’ money
is available to all LEAs over the next few years and is not
dependent on a complete changeover to a two-tier system.
The money is earmarked for 'secondary' education. However middle schools
are deemed secondary and it would appear that in some LEAs building programmes
in middle schools are to be funded from this money.
Source: Letter from Whitley Memorial School 16th March 2004
(http://www.themissingoption.co.uk/wm_school1.htm) |
| 17 March 2004 |
Consider: The catalyst for change is `Building Schools
for the Future', a Government programme to replace every
secondary school in the country with new buildings over the
next 10-15 years.
Middle schools are included in this scheme. This is seen as a once in
a lifetime opportunity to acquire guaranteed funding and it is not a
question of `if' but `when' we get it.
So why at this critical moment is Northumberland proposing to change
to a two-tier system and seek funding for only 15 high schools when we
could also include 45 middles?
Any suggestion that by not reorganising we will be put to the back of
the queue for funding is misleading since other authorities with middle
schools appear to have been successful in the first round of bids.
Source: Article by Mike Routledge in The Journal 17 March 2004
|
| March 2004 |
Government funding is available to all secondary/Middle schools
regardless of whether they are in a 2-tier or 3-tier system.
Source: The Missing Option flyer – March 2004
(http://www.themissingoption.co.uk/flyer1.htm) |
| 30 March 2004 |
A recent article in the local paper confirms that government
funding is available to all secondary schools and that this
does include Middle Schools. The funding is intended to replace
or refurbish all schools providing secondary education by the
year 2015. It is made very clear that this money is not dependant
on schools change to a 2-tier system.
Source: The Missing Option – 30 March 2004
(http://www.themissingoption.co.uk/detailed_update.htm) |
| 8 April 2004 |
“It has been made clear that BSF funding will be available
for secondary education restructuring/refurbishment, that is,
for buildings supporting the education of pupils 11 onwards.”
Source: Letter from Jim Wright (Executive Member for Children’s Services)
dated 8 April 2004 |
| 29 April 2004 |
“Last year, with the support of the majority of schools
and Local Education Authorities (LEAs), we launched BSF to
rebuild or renew every secondary school, or units that teach
secondary pupils, in England.”
Source: Letter from DfES dated 29 April 2004 |
| 25 May 2004 |
Journal report BSF funding is available to all of Middle
Schools in Northumberland
Source: Journal 25 May 2004 |
| 27 May 2004 |
“whilst ‘Building Schools for the Future’ money
would pay for educational facilities relating to secondary
age pupils in Middle Schools, the Council would have to contribute
to the costs relating to the primary age pupils in the improvement/replacement
of middles schools (ie half the pupils)
Source: Report of the Director of Education to the executive dated 27 May
2004 |
| 19 May 2004 |
AP – To access this government funding to help you
build these new schools do you have to close middle schools
or could you get the funding anyway?
BE – The expression of interest for £270m we have made is for
secondary age pupils. Now middle schools have primary age pupils and secondary
age pupils as far as the government is concerned and they would expect
the council to find the funding for the primary age pupils.
Source: Brian Edwards talking to Adrian Pitchers in a BBCNE interview broadcast
19 May 2004 |
| Undated May 2004? |
“BSF funding is for secondary age pupils – the
Council would have to contribute the capital funding to make
improvements to buildings for primary age pupils, that is for
half the pupils in Middle Schools and for the First Schools.
Source: Putting the Learner First Members Briefing prior to the Council
Meeting on 9 June 2004 |
| 18 June 2004 |
Middle schools are included in the programme where they are
deemed as secondary schools.
Source: Building Schools for the Future – Questions & Answers
dated 18 June 2004 |
| 24 June 2004 |
Stephen Twigg confirms in the House of Commons that funding
is available for Middle Schools
Source: Hansard 24 June 2004 column 1538 onwards |
| 25 June 2004 |
Jim Wright is quoted in the Journal as saying “We
have never said that this money was not available for Middle
Schools.”
Source: Journal 25 June 2004 |
| 29 June 2004 |
“BSF support is a crucial, indeed the only, way that
an area like Northumberland can raise the bar sufficiently
to make a meaningful improvement in our levels of aspiration
and achievement.”
Source: Letter from M Davey, Leader of the County Council dated 29 June
2004
|
| 2 September 2004 |
“Building Schools for the Future” funding was
available for secondary schools including all years of Middle
Schools that were deemed secondary”
Source: Minutes of Tynedale Council Meeting held on 2 September 2004 |
| 8 September 2004 |
“I can confirm that BSF funding will cover middle deemed
secondary schools in full.”
Source: email from DfES dated 8 September 2004 |
| 13 September 2004 |
“We have however, made it clear that Northumberland
can expect to be involved in BSF whether they are 3-tier or
2-tier, as middle-deemed secondary school are funded through
BSF.”
Source: briefing to David Miliband for teleconference with Michael Davey. |
| 24 September 2004 |
Middle deemed secondary schools thus fall within the scope
of the scheme and refurbishment, replacement or building of
middle deemed secondary schools can form part of LEA proposals.
All local authorities have submitted proposals and this has
enabled the DFES to estimate the scale of the funding that
will be required as well as the balance between new build and
refurbishment (to be about 50/50).
Officers in Northumberland have been claiming that BSF funding will only
be available if they reorganise from three tier to two tier. This is not
true.
Source: Report of Building Schools for the Future meeting with DFES |
| 4 October 2004 |
“existing middle-deemed secondary schools are eligible
to be included in BSF projects (see para 29 of the BSF guidance);
primary and middle-deemed primary schools are not included
in BSF, and would have to be funded by authorities.”
Source: email to NCC dated 4 October 2004 |
| 5 October 2004 |
“where buildings are wholly or mainly for primary pupils
(eg primary or middle-deemed primary) we would not expect BSF
to cover this, but for middle deemed secondaries, where most
pupils fall into the secondary age group, we would cover these.
Source: email from DfES to NCC |
| 13 October 2004 |
“Finally, with regard to the issue of BSF funding for
middle schools; the funding is directed at buildings rather
than pupils, and as such is available for middle (deemed secondary)
schools where a three-tier system is being retained.”
Source: Letter from the Schools Capital Policy Team dated 13 October 2004 |
| 18 October 2004 |
“I can confirm that middle (deemed secondary) schools
are eligible for BSF funding where a three tier system is retained.”
Source: Letter from David Miliband (Minister for School Standards) dated
18 October 2004 |
| 4 November 2004 |
(The LEA) advised that Members would have to make the decision
to divert funds to school reorganisation in order to meet the
cost of the first 2-3 years of the reorganisation but were
hoping to secure BSF funds for the work thereafter and were
looking for clarity from the DfES about the BSF bid.
Source: Minutes of meeting 4 November 2004 |
| 29 November 2004 |
“Ambition that you will rebuild at least one secondary
school by 2011 and join the full programme by 2016.
Source: Letter to Cllr M Davey, Leader of Council; Jim Wright, Member for
education; Mark Henderson, Chief Executive, and Director Of Education. |
| 18 January 2005 |
North Northumberland and Central Northumberland to start
during waves 10-12 and West and South East to start during
waves 13-15.
Source: Letter to Director of Education |
