Southampton is to be one of eight local authorities to be fast-tracked to join the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme from this summer.

The City Council has been given the go-ahead to join the once-in-a-generation programme, to give all secondary school pupils world-class facilities.

It means that Southampton can now start developing projects to rebuild and refurbish the secondary schools most in need of investment – with the remaining local secondaries being rebuilt or renewed later in the programme. 

John Denham said “This is excellent news and a great opportunity for Southampton to improve its schools.  I have been lobbying education ministers hard for this since last Summer.”

“Labour has made record investments in education over the last 11 years and has made massive strides in addressing the depressing legacy of underinvestment in secondary schools. But we want to go further.  Building Schools for the Future will transform the shape of education and future generations will reap the rewards of these fantastic new learning environments and facilities.”

Southampton’s Building Schools for the Future Bid was put together during the short period of the Lab-Lib pact earlier this year.  Southampton Labour Councillor Matt Stevens signed off the successful bid.