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Frequently Asked Questions

INTRODUCTION

Why do we need a Building Schools for the Future Programme?

The council has embarked on a major strategy called 'Remaking Learning' which seeks to transform education across all stages.

In our secondary schools one of the barriers to transforming learning is the condition of our schools, which, as with many others across the country, have suffered from a significant lack of capital investment for many years.

Many of our secondary schools require major capital investment simply to keep them operational in the medium term.  Following a detailed assessment of the quality of all of our schools the council has decided to replace all its secondary schools, all of one of its two special schools and approximately 50% of its second special school with completely new buildings which will provide state of the art 21st Century facilities for all who use them.

What is BSF about in Barnsley?

The key elements of the BSF programme are:

  • complete demolition of all of the existing 13 secondary schools and replacement by nine new Advanced Learning Centres (secondary schools with additional provision and services);
  • complete demolition of one existing building and its replacement by a new special school;
  • demolition of approximately 50% of one existing special school and the replacement of this element with new build and lifecycle of the remaining 50% (approximately four years old);
  • provision of an ICT managed service;
  • transformational training for teachers and others in securing state of the art use of ICT;
  • value for money and continuous improvement;
  • new project development.

The ALCs aspire to:

  • be new build.  They will have state of the art provision for learners at each life stage beyond 11 years.  In each of the ALCs learners will be able to access academic and vocational courses, leisure pursuits, life skills training, the arts etc;
  • offer full service provision, where appropriate, and each ALC zone will offer full service provision at primary level;
  • offer a specialism and a subsidiary;
  • be DDA compliant and environmentally sustainable;
  • provide a range of curriculum pathways towards further qualifications, training and employment;
  • be federated with further and higher education institutions, notably Barnsley and Dearne Valley Colleges so that learners can access higher level and degree courses;
  • make provision for up to 2,000 students with additional provision for adults;
  • provide access to a wide range of leisure facilities;
  • have integrated youth and other service provision;
  • be open up to 48 weeks per year.  Opening upto 7.00am and closing at 10.00 pm, five days a week with additional opening at weekends.  These hours to be refined as and when contracts are signed.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHEME

Who is the main contractor for the scheme?

A. Laing O’Rourke will be the principle contractor responsible for the construction of all the new Advanced Learning Centres (ALCs) and form part of the Barnsley Partnership for Learning (BP4L) consortium.  Laing O’Rourke is the UK’s largest privately owned construction company and has had a presence in Yorkshire for many years.  Recent local projects include the refurbishment of Meadowhall Shopping Centre, the construction of the new Barnsley Interchange and Laing O’Rourke’s new manufacturing facility in Steetly.  Nationally Laing O’Rourke has been responsible for some major iconic projects.  For more information on Laing O’Rourke go to Laing O'Rourke 

Who designed the new schools?

BP4L’s architects for the Phase 1 schools are as follows:

  • Carlton – BDP
  • Kirk Balk – Alford Hall Monaghan Morris
  • Penistone – Atkins
  • Dearne – Watson Batty
  • Darton – Lathams

BP4L’s architects for the Phase 2 schools are as follows:

  • Greenacre - Atkins
  • Springwell – Atkins
  • Priory/Willowgarth – BDP

BP4L’s architects for the Phase 3 schools will be confirmed later this year.

EDUCATIONAL TRANSFORMATION

What benefits does the BSF Programme bring for my child?

The BSF programme will deliver 21st century learning environments for all young people entering secondary education.  High quality ICT and specialist facilities, combined with some flexible learning spaces more like a business environment than a traditional classroom, will enable your child to really develop their personal, learning and thinking skills alongside specialist subject knowledge.  ICT will be used in every part of your child’s learning.  The facilities will raise young people’s motivation, aspirations and engagement with learning, significantly increasing the possibility of higher levels of achievement.  In addition each ALC will offer extended services such as careers information, advice and guidance and access to a range of children’s services professionals which will support any additional needs your child may have and ensure that their progress is maximised.

How can my child access Diplomas not taught in our local ALC?

Increasingly, the ALCs will be working together to enable all young people to access the personalised learning pathway of their choice.  So whatever your child’s interests or career choice, there will be an ALC which will be able to support them with high quality teaching and learning and specialist facilities.  Common timetables will enable your child to complete part of their studies in their local ALC but also to travel to a different ALC to study the Diploma of their choice.  Of course part of every Diploma’s learning will take place in real workplaces not ALCs.  In addition, video conferencing, virtual learning and networking through ICT will enable your child to enhance their Diploma learning within their local ALC.

What will the Programme mean for Barnsley?

In addition to delivering 21st century learning environments for all young people through the construction of nine Advanced Learning Centres and two special schools the BSF programme will enable BMBC, in partnership with Barnsley Partnership for Learning (BP4L), to provide a range of additional opportunities for young people, employment and training opportunities and training for teachers and other school staff.  This will give a significant boost to the regeneration of the Borough. 

During the building period a number of construction related learning activities will be offered within schools such as enterprise activities, master classes and career talks, whilst there will also be opportunities for work experience placements in construction and related activities such as architecture.  Two ‘Learning Zones’ will be set up adjacent to the construction sites to enable young people to observe the construction process safely and engage in construction related learning activities. 

A ‘Construction Skills Academy’ will be set up around the BSF project to provide training for the significant numbers employed within the construction programme.  At least 40 apprenticeships will be made available through the Academy. 

ALC staff - teachers, support staff and school leaders - will also have opportunities to learn.  Learning how to enable young people to make the most of the state of the art ICT will be central but there will also be construction related learning for teachers delivering the Diploma and opportunities for placements with BP4L’s senior management for school leaders. 

What are the visions and values of the ALCs?

Each ALC and special school will have a unique vision.  This will reflect the best of what the high schools provide and any specialism which they already have but will also seek to reflect the ALCs desire to provide personalised learning for all young people so that they can follow the pathway of their choice and learn in the manner best suited to them.  Those ALCs which will emerge from the closure of two existing schools will combine the best of the two existing schools and to develop a new and distinctive identity.  The values which underpin each ALC’s vision will vary but all will include a commitment to ensuring the highest possible level of achievement for all young people and an inclusive ethos. 

What will be different about the way our children will be taught in the ALCs?

Increasingly there will be less reliance on teachers giving or explaining information to their students and much more emphasis on young people learning to work independently and with each other.  Because success in the world beyond education increasingly requires soft skills such as team working, thinking creatively and managing their own learning, the development of these ‘personal, learning and thinking skills’ will be encouraged alongside the traditional and new secondary subjects. 

Some traditional classrooms will be retained but there will be many more open plan spaces in which students will work together on projects and tasks under the guidance and supervision of school staff.  This change of emphasis within teaching has been described as moving from the ‘sage on the stage’ to the ‘guide at the side’.  As the use of ICT will be central to all your child’s work – not just in ICT lessons – their work will increasingly be recorded electronically rather than in books and assessment of their progress may be based on assessing their ‘e-portfolio’.  They will be able to access all their work from home through the internet. 

How will the ALC work with the wider community?

Each ALC will be at the heart of a learning zone and will be supported by up to 10 Primary Learning Centres which will replace our traditional primary schools and they in turn will be linked to Children’s Centres.  Both the ALC and some Primary Learning Centres will offer full service or extended provision which will enable swift and easy access to a range of support services for students and their families. 

Many parts of the ALC facilities such as the Learning Resource Centre (library), sports facilities and cafe will be available to the community as appropriate during the day and evening.  Adult education facilities will be available as will a range of learning opportunities.  Whatever stage of life you are in and whether or not your children attend the ALC there will be a facility or a learning opportunity for you.  The ALCs will aim to be the beating heart of the communities they serve. 

Will the needs of those with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities be catered for in the new school designs?  If special schools are co-located with mainstream schools, will they be equals or just add-ons? Will SEN pupils' needs be taken into account in design, for example lifts, lighting, acoustics, and health and safety?

Yes - as a new build or refurbishment the facilities created will comply with the latest legislation, and both BMBC and national government policy.  Certainly compared to many existing school buildings, it is an opportunity to improve accessibility and inclusion. 

What about provision for post-16 education - is that included in the BSF scheme?

Funding for the ongoing costs of post-16 education, such as teaching staff, resources etc, is provided by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and is separate from the BSF funding.  Within each ALC funding has been provided to allow the schools to choose to make available extra space for the provision of post 16 teaching and learning should this opportunity arise in the future. 

What is different about an Advanced Learning Centre from a school?

Unlike most of our existing secondary schools the ALCs will aspire to open part of their buildings and facilities for longer hours, often until 10pm at night and for some hours on Saturdays and Sundays

They will have new enhanced sports and leisure facilities and they will have extensive enhanced ICT

LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE OF ALCS

Are ALCs bound by the same OFSTED rules and regulations as now?

Yes, the fact that we are calling our new schools ALCs does not change their inspection arrangements

Who runs an ALC?

The governing body and the headteacher have responsibility for managing the ALC as they have now

ADMISSIONS

Will BSF affect school admissions?

As part of the  Building Schools for the Future programme, the authority is closing eight secondary schools and replacing these with four new build schools.

The schools affected are:

  • Edward Sheerien and Royston secondary schools - to be replaced with a new 1100 place school at Carlton in January 2011
  • Priory and Willowgarth schools - to be replaced with a new 1500 place school at Shafton in 2011
  • Darfield Foulstone and Wombwell  High schools - to replaced with a new 1800 place school at Low Valley in 2012
  • Holgate and Kingstone schools  - to be replaced with a new 2000 place school on the Holgate site in 2012.

Details of the admission arrangements for the new schools will be shown in the Admission to School booklet in the year prior to the new school opening.

The admission arrangements for all remaining secondary schools are as published in the Authority's Admission to School booklet.

ICT

Why is ICT included in BSF?

ICT plays a very important part of BSF with a high level of capital funding.  This is because we need to ensure that the infrastructure in BSF schools is suitable for tomorrow’s educational technology, not just today's. 

ICT is an integral component which links buildings with teaching and learning.  BSF will provide:

  • a step change in the level of ICT provision in secondary schools in England
  • buildings designed to maximise use of ICT managed ICT services which guarantee availability and reliability
  • incentives to develop the use of ICT in teaching and learning

BSF funding for ICT will pay for passive network infrastructure, active network equipment, hardware (computers and peripherals), software and setting up an area-wide managed service for ICT.  Schools are required to join a managed service and to pay an annual revenue charge per pupil which is likely to provide a saving on schools’ current expenditure on procuring, managing, maintaining and refreshing their ICT infrastructure and equipment.

Does BSF encourage the use of Wi-Fi in schools?

This is an important part of our BSF requirements so that students and teachers can use computers and the Internet throughout the school in line with ‘any time, any place’ and personalised learning.  In some cases, Wi-Fi can also be used by for students to log on at home, as well as by members of the local community.  The Health Protection Agency, Department for Children, Schools and Families, and Becta all highlight the fact that there is no scientific evidence to date that Wi-Fi and WLANs adversely affect the health of children, and therefore no reason why schools should not use Wi-Fi equipment. 

What level of ICT is expected to be delivered by BSF?

The whole process began with BMBC and the schools drawing up a vision for improving secondary education.  This vision was informed by an understanding of the ways in which new technologies can improve educational provision.  In turn, the wider vision informed the development of an ICT strategy which sets out the steps to be taken to help realise the local authority’s and schools’ aspirations.  This in turn was used to develop an Output (ie outcome based) Specification that the BSF bidders addressed in their proposals.  The chosen bidder will offer a large range of ICT equipment that each school will choose from.  This will be underpinned by a wired and wireless network that will allow access to every teaching area of all the schools.  This will have sufficient capacity to allow every child in every lesson to access ICT if required.

Why have the ICT output specification?

It is very difficult to predict the technologies which will have the most positive effect on education in the future, so we don’t try to do this.  Instead, we focus on the things we would expect the technology and associated managed service to facilitate.  These include:

  • the development of real and virtual workspaces which help to make effective, personalised learning a reality for all students; which enable teachers and other professionals to focus on their core tasks and be more effective; and which provide parents and carers with easy access to information about learners’ achievements and progress
  • access to high quality learning materials in a wide range of settings through as wide a range of end-user devices as possible (eg desktops, laptops, PDAs, smart phones, games consoles)
  • infrastructure which is extremely reliable and easy to use.  We talk about ICT becoming “the fifth utility”: something we take for granted in the same way as water, gas and electricity and telephony
  • freeing schools from the burden of having to procure and manage their own ICT solutions whilst still giving them choice and flexibility.

What is an ICT managed service?

The ICT managed service provides a full ICT support environment that includes training, security, help desk support and other related services.  The hosting of the Learning Platform in a controlled and secure environment should also be provided.

Why have an ICT managed service?

The ICT managed service is designed to achieve a number of key objectives:

  • ICT provision should support BMBC in meeting the needs of the Every Child Matters agenda.
  • ICT provision should be area-based, integrating schools (eg across an entire local authority or LEP) and be scalable across the life of the BSF programme, including the ability to include additional schools/academies in the managed service.  An ICT solution that is focussed purely on the provision of equipment on a school by school basis is unlikely to be value for money or provide the basis for a transformational programme.   The area-based solution will enable access from a single logon to all services, the ability to share information across agencies and the effective integration of ICT services into the wider community. 
  • ICT provision should be regarded in similar terms as public utilities by staff and pupils.  From their perspective it should be simple to use, and be integral to the school environment .  It should enable teaching staff to use digital lesson preparation and delivery, have access to administration and management information systems and provide learners/parents/carers access to personalised learning portfolios.  Baseline tools such as word processing, spreadsheets and web access to be provided.
  • ICT provision should be seen as an agent for change, enabling teaching staff and pupils to transform the way they work and learn.  ICT solutions should encourage new methods of teaching and learning

Who will support the school’s ICT equipment?

The support of the school’s ICT equipment will be the responsibility of the Local Education Partnership’s ICT subcontractor – a company called Civica. 

Who will provide and support the data centre services?

The data centre services and wide area network are the subject of a separate support contract that BMBC has with a company called Bull.  Bull has worked with BMBC for many years and in addition to supporting the education data centre they also provide a broader ICT support service for all the Council’s Directorates.

How will ICT in BSF be different to the current ICT?

BSF ICT will be very different to the current ICT support arrangements.  Currently schools are each responsible for their own in-house support under the brokerage arrangements.  Under BSF the managed service supports all the schools and this ensure consistency of approach, common technology infrastructure across all the schools and frees up the schools from the burden of keeping on top of rapidly changing technology by contracting this responsibility to a company that specialises in this type of work.

The ICT infrastructure will be designed into the school building – the present schools have an infrastructure that has been added piecemeal.

The design requirement is for every child to be able to access ICT to support learning in every lesson if required.

There will be a common access control system across all the schools to support pupil mobility – for instance to access new diplomas in a different school to the one they normally attend.  This will take the form of a proximity card that can be used for a variety of other functions as well – for instance cashless catering, lesson registration, library access.

The actual ICT devices will be a mixture of fixed and mobile devices determined by each school according to their own needs.

The managed service will provide resources to train staff in the new technology and to support their use of it on an on-going basis.

Will I have to pay for my child’s school computer?

No, you will not have to pay for your child’s school computer.  Computer devices will be provided by the school as they are at present. 

My child has a computer – can it be used in the new school?

The system is being designed to support the use of pupil’s own devices.  There are some procedures that will need to be implemented to ensure that viruses can not be introduced into school by non school devices being connected to the network.  In addition it will be each school’s own decision when pupil owned devices can be brought in and connected to the network.

Will my child be able to access their work through the Internet from home?

Yes, the ICT solution is being designed so that learning resources can be accessed out of school through a normal internet connection.

What about safety considerations?

Safety precautions are being designed in to the system and safety policies devised.  The system will be as safe as we can make it and government guidelines will be followed.  Parents/carers will still have a role to play to ensure their children are following the procedures and acting sensibly when using their computer at home.
 
Will they be able to bring their school computer home?

This will be the decision of each school. 

How will ICT help to transform teaching and learning?

By transformation we mean the use of the new school buildings and the full range of ICT to deliver teaching and learning in a whole range of different ways that are not possible today.  The objective is to engage our learners inside and outside the school in new ways to make learning always accessible and more enjoyable. 

However ICT is not an end in itself – it’s an enabler.  It will support new ways of working but it’s down to people to make the change.

There are several key ways in which ICT can enable these changes; it can

  • help make learning more enjoyable though the provision of exciting multi-media learning resources
  • help teachers provide differentiated learning ie personalised to the ability of individual learners
  • provide access to learning resources anytime and from anywhere where a connection to the Internet is available
  • provide a means for learners to collaborate with each other in pursuit of their learning
  • provide teaching staff with joined up management information to support their teaching

We believe that our vision for transformation is not achievable in a single step.  We will need to work towards it over a period of time – probably years. 

Successful transformation will be the result of an interaction between:

  • the new ALC building which will be much more flexible to use, exciting to be in and provided with better environmental conditions
  • the new ICT provision comprising fixed and wireless access with better ratios of equipment and better software to support teaching and learning
  • teachers and their ability to adapt to the use of the new building and technology
  • learners (supported by their parents/guardians) and their willingness to embrace the new ways of learning and take advantage of the opportunities offered

Will the school library have computers instead of books?

No, computers will have a place in each library (called Learning Resource Centres) but will not replace the books. 

What is the Learning Platform?

The Learning Platform is the name given to a suite of software products designed to achieve a number of objectives.  It provides:

  • teachers with a means of creating and storing digital learning resources and organising them into work units to help deliver courses of work in support of the curriculum
  • pupils with a means of accessing the digital resources and submitting their work for teacher evaluation and comment
  • a means to enable collaboration so that all users can communicate in safety.  This could be pupils to their teacher, pupils to each other and teachers to each other.
  • integration between the school management information system which contains detail of every pupil their targets and progress and the Learning System. 

The Learning Platform will become more important as time goes on as it will increasing become the centre of all teaching and learning.  It will be accessible in and out of school, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What is Studywiz?

StudyWiz is a system that is part of the Learning Platform.  It is called a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).  It is a software system designed to support teaching and learning in an educational setting.  A VLE will normally work over the Internet and provide a collection of tools such as those for assessment (particularly of types that can be marked automatically, such as multiple choice), communication, uploading of content, return of students' work, peer assessment, administration of student groups, collecting and organising student marks, questionnaires, tracking tools, etc.  New features in these systems include wikis, blogs, RSS and 3D virtual learning spaces.

While originally created for distance education, VLEs are now most often used to supplement traditional face to face classroom activities, commonly known as Blended Learning.

What is the Portal?

The Portal is a component of the Learning Platform and its role is to provide the component that provides collaboration across all the schools in Barnsley.  It manifests itself as a web site that acts as a gateway into both the BMBC and each school.

Will schools become “paperless environments” like some offices?

We anticipate that over time pupils will increasingly do their work through a computer.  They will create work on a computer and submit it to their teacher through the network.  The teacher will read and mark the work on a computer and send it back to the pupil through the network.  Thus exercise books will be used less than at present.  Clearly this way of working is not suitable for all subjects or at all times.  Thus the transition will be gradual.

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Our intention is to implement a construction skills academy in Barnsley in partnership with Construction Skills to facilitate the recruitment of qualified new entrants into construction industry as well assisting in the training of the existing workforce.

Will the students and the schools get an opportunity to get involved with the building of their new schools?

The Barnsley BSF programme will bring a wealth of employment and training opportunities to the area and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and Barnsley Partnership for Learning (BP4L) wish to fully exploit these opportunities by devising an intensive educational engagement offer that will capitalise on the various professions in the BP4L consortium offering anything from apprenticeships through to work experience, masterclasses and career talks.  The extensive programme will offer the young people of Barnsley a unique opportunity to learn from the projects being built on their doorsteps and raise career aspirations in the area.  .

Will there be apprenticeship opportunities?

The principle contractor, Laing O’Rourke, will be offering a 40 apprenticeships through the life of the construction of the schools, but aiming to improve on this number by engaging with our supply chain partners.  Priority will be given to those students currently studying construction related qualifications and various locations in the Barnsley borough.  For further information on apprenticeships and how to apply please contact Rachel Tonks (01226 720760) or rtonks@laingorourke.com

Will there be work experience opportunities during construction?

Laing O’Rourke will be offering 40 apprenticeships and a variety of other work experience opportunities throughout construction including Pelican Work Placements and Young Apprenticeship Placement Days.

The extensive programme will offer the young people of Barnsley a unique opportunity to learn from the projects being built on their doorsteps and raise career aspirations in the area.  John Salvini is managing the whole programme for BP4L and he will work directly with the schools .

Will there be job opportunities during the construction?

The principal contractor Laing O’Rourke has a high number of directly employed labour to ensure greater consistency and quality in their work and transfer skills across all projects. There will be numerous job opportunities with Laing O’Rourke and subsequent sub-contractors working on the scheme.  For a full list of job opportunities and details on how to apply please go to Becky Thompson, bthompson@laingorourke.com

SPORTS AND LEISURE

Will the BSF scheme allow extra sports and ancillary facilities to be created and will the wider community be able to use these potentially?

Yes, BSF schools will include sports facilities, which, in most cases, will be an improvement on the current provision.  For example a large school hall will be provided plus a sports hall and sufficient outdoor courts/grassed areas in line with statutory requirements.

PROGRAMME

What is the earliest start date of the scheme?

We hope to sign final contracts by June 2009, which will allow construction on the first ALCs to start in Spring 2009.  These dates are of course subject to change

How many schools are in the Barnsley Building Schools for the Future Programme?

There are currently 14 secondary schools in Barnsley and two special schools; of these 13 secondary and both special are within the BSF programme.  When the BSF programme is complete there will be 10 secondary schools and two special schools

The table below shows the schools as they are now and as they will become

BARNSLEY SECONDARY AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS

EXISTING SCHOOL NEW SCHOOL
Phase 1 of BSF 
Darton Darton ALC
Dearne Dearne ALC

Edward Sheerien )
Royston               )

Carlton ALC
Kirk Balk  Kirk Balk ALC
Penistone Grammar Penistone Grammar ALC
Phase 2 of BSF 
Greenacre Greenacre Special School
Priory          ) 
Willowgarth ) 		 Priory/Willowgarth ALC
Springwell  Springwell Special School
Phase 3 of BSF 

Foulstone   ) 
Wombwell ) 

 Foulstone/Wombwell ALC
Holgate    ) 
Kingstone ) 		 Holgate/Kingstone ALC
St Michael’s  St Michael’s ALC
The Academy 
The Barnsley Academy The Barnsley Academy

NB  The Academy is not affected by BSF

St Michael’s as shown above is before the outcome of the ongoing consultation on the new 3-16 school

Does the LA have ideas as to the size of schools they wish to create under BSF?

In Barnsley we have set the minimum size for an Advanced Learning Centre at 900 with a maximum size of around 2000.  This is for ALCs which are 11 to 16, we are also consulting on a 5 to 16 school which will be of a different size.

Will all the schools be built at the same time?

No, the schools will be started and completed at different times.  It is being planned over various phases.  As will be appreciated in a programme of this size these dates are subject to constant review and they will change.  The most recent estimated opening dates are shown below:

BARNSLEY SECONDARY AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS

 NEW SCHOOL   CURRENT ESTIMATED OPENING DATE (Subject to Change)
 Phase 1 of BSF 
 Darton ALC    February 2011
 Dearne ALC   January 2011
 Carlton ALC   January 2011
 Kirk Balk ALC   Easter 2011
 Penistone Grammar ALC   Easter 2011
 Phase 2 of BSF 
 Greenacre Special School   September 2011
 Priory/Willowgarth ALC   September 2011
 Springwell Special School   April 2011
 Phase 3 of BSF 
 Foulstone/Wombwell ALC   September 2012
 Holgate/Kingstone ALC   September 2012
 St Michael’s ALC   September 2012

STAFF

What happens to existing staff when schools move to school buildings?

For teaching and administration staff there is no change - they still work for the governors or local authority (LA).

For facilities management staff (cleaners, site supervisors, mid-day supervisors), this will depend upon which services the council decides to include in the contract.   Those staff who work in services that will be included are likely to be transferred to become employees of the contractor.  The 'Transfer Undertaking Protection of Employment Rights' (TUPE) (a European law) provides protection to staff that transfer in relation to maintaining their terms and conditions. 

PUPILS

What will happen to the pupils during the building of the new schools and the demolition of the old ones?

As we are building all new schools, with the exception of Greenacre, there will be very little disruption.  Pupils will be able to attend their existing schools which will remain open as now until the Advanced Learning Centre buildings are complete and ready to move into.

At Greenacre about half of the school is to be replaced with new buildings  and the remainder of the existing school buildings will be retained.  This presents particular challenges both for the school and the contractor. It is inevitable that when building on to an existing school there will be some disruption, however we will be working very closely with all concerned to ensure the health and safety of all staff, pupils and visitors and to minimise any possible disruption.

Will transport of pupils to, from and around school be considered?

Yes.  Locally, the planning process will consider transport issues of pupils in due course and the internal design of the school will take into consideration pupil flows and their needs.  There will be no change to the council's transport policy as a result of this scheme. 

COMMUNITY

Will there be much disruption to the local community?

It is impossible to guarantee no disruption however our construction partners are very experienced in this type of work and will operate in a way that minimises disruption to the local community.

The work on site will be very carefully controlled to ensure that it is as safe as it can be.

My child is located at one of the schools adjoining the building site how will their schooling be affected?

Each building site will have a dedicated liaison contact appointed to work closely with the adjoining schools to minimise any disruption to the existing students. Monitoring procedures will be put in place to minimise the impact of noise and the building programme will be designed around the academic year and any events such as exams.  Safety is paramount on all our sites and major consideration will be given to engage students and make them aware of the dangers on a live construction site. The site logistics will be carefully considered in such a way that minimises the interface between students/public and the construction sites.

What measures will be put in place to protect students from the dangers of a building site?

The safety of the students is of great importance when working in such close proximity to the existing schools.  Part of the challenge is to engage students and encourage a sense of responsibility with the site and alleviate curiosity by making the site interactive with regular site visits, projects, viewing pods and platforms.

I am a teacher at one of the schools adjoining a site.  How will my working day be affected?

A. Each building site will be situated within its own designated area and disruption to the adjoining school will be kept to a minimum.  All staff will be kept informed of any site activity that may impact on their students in advance and there will be a designated point of contact on the construction team if you have concerns about the buildings site or associated activities.

I am a resident close to the new building site.  How will it affect me?

Laing O’Rourke will keep you informed about the work happening in your area and you will receive regular newsletters, letters and updates before work begins in your area.  Hours of working will be between 8am and 6pm.  On occasions where out of hours work is necessary adjoining neighbours will be notified in advance.

How will you keep the roads outside the site clean?

Laing O’Rourke will become a member of the Considerate Constructors Scheme on all of the new ALC sites.  As part of our commitment to this scheme we need to act as a responsible neighbour and make sure that the areas adjacent to our site are kept as clean as possible.  We have included a system of wheel washers at the exits of each site prior to any vehicle returning onto the highway.  At times of heavy traffic and at periods when conditions will allow unavoidable dirt to pass onto the highway we will provide a road cleaning vehicle to clean the adjacent roads.

Who do I contact if I have a problem?

If you are experiencing any problem with one of the BSF building sites please contact Michelle Levi on 07810 154 696 or mlevi@laingorourke.com.

FUNDING/CONTRACTS

What is PFI?

The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is a means of funding the buildings of new, and refurbished, schools (and other public facilities such as hospitals and roads) and usually includes the design, construction, finance and maintenance of these facilities.

In Barnsley’s case some of the new schools are PFI funded and some are being funded by the council/schools.

Who pays for the upkeep and maintenance of an ALC?

The council will pay for this using funding from the government, the schools and its own budgets for those services delivered under the new contracts.  Some services such as catering will continue to be delivered by schools themselves.

Who owns the new buildings/facilities if created under a PFI contract and for how long? What happens after that period? Who pays for what?

The authority owns the site throughout the contract.  The PFI contractor will build, finance, and manage the new school buildings for up to 25 years.  Basically BMBC will pay a rent for the premises to be used by the school and this will include furniture and ICT facilities.  After the contract period the school will transfer to BMBC's ownership in a fully maintained condition.  The school is responsible for paying teaching and support staff. 

OTHER ISSUES

What happens if the council or government change politically - will the BSF scheme be scrapped?

The BSF scheme has at present backing from all major political parties.

What alternative to BSF is there?

The traditional capital programme funded by BMBC is still available though it is extremely small in comparison to the investment opportunity that BSF provides for Barnsley. 

Will the buildings and grounds be to an appropriate quality standard, provide sufficient space and protect green areas?

Yes - the designs will have to meet DCSF and building regulations regarding the quality of design and materials provided.  Likewise internal space provisions will conform to guidelines and allow for flexible use.  As regards playing fields and green areas, there is legislation regarding provision and retention of sufficient playing fields dependent on pupil numbers.  Designs and layouts would comply with this and any extension work would require planning approval so, for example, neighbours could have their concerns heard at the application stage also.

Are there similar schools already built and in use?

Yes - there are a number coming on-stream.  Clearly any lessons that can be learnt by the experience of the schools in the new buildings can feed into the design and specification of BSF schools in Barnsley.  BMBC will continue to look for experiences from schools in BSF already and adapt schemes accordingly.

OUR PARTNERS

Who will be carrying out the construction of the new schools?

This will be controlled by the Barnsley Local Education Partnership which has a number of partners including Barnsley Council, Partnerships for Schools and Barnsley Partnership for Learning (a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and John Laing).

The building works themselves will be undertaken by Laing O’Rourke Construction

What is a Local Education Partnership (LEP)?

The LEP is joint venture company between Barnsley Council, Partnerships for Schools and Barnsley Partnership for Learning (a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and John Laing).  Its aim is to raise educational standards within the borough by delivering the BSF investment.  The LEP will:

  • work with the council and other local stakeholders to develop strategic investment plans for education for the area;
  • act as the single point of contact for procuring and providing all the services needed to deliver the investment programme – ranging from design, construction, project management and maintenance to ICT services;
  • integrate and manage a diverse range of supply chain sub-contractors – ranging from building contractors and FM services providers to ICT suppliers; and enable delivery of projects through a mix of procurement routes – private finance initiative and conventionally funded.

SUPPLIERS

I have a service/product that I believe is valuable to the BSF project.  How can I get involved?

The LEP will manage the procurement of all products and services relevant to the BSF Project.  If you feel your company has something to offer the scheme you will need to contact Nigel Parsons on 01226 720760.

OTHER

How will the local wildlife and ecology be protected on the site.

Laing O’Rourke has brought on board an environmental manager, Andrew Harris, who will work closely with an ecological consultant to assist with the sites that require this focus.  An ecological strategy is currently in place for all Phase 1 sites.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE PROGRAMME?

Websites you might want to visit:

GLOSSARY

3D virtual learning spaces  Where ICT s used to create an immersive and interactive environment to facilitate or aid learning, this is known as 3D virtual learning environment.  Examples of systems that provide these facilities include:
Second Life, Quest Atlantis, Monja Kids, Active Worlds and Fifth Dimension.
Access control system This system controls who can have access to a school’s premises. It also controls when they can gain entry. It maintains the security of the school site along side other systems.
Active network equipment This is the equipment on a network that analyses data and then does something about it. For example: computers, routers or switches.
ALC  Advanced Learning Centre
BLOGS A web site with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.
Becta British Educational Computing and Technology Agency (Becta) is the government organisation that oversees the development and implementation of technology in schools.
Blended Learning This is the term given to an approach to learning and teaching that includes the use of a range of strategies including the use of technology.
Blogs This is an online tool that allows users to create the equivalent of a diary page or log on the internet that others can read.
BMBC  Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
BP4L Barnsley Partnership for Learning
BPfL Barnsley Platform for Learning – comprises StudyWiz, the Portal and SIMS.
Brokerage arrangements Barnsley schools spend millions of pounds in goods, works and services. Although schools have individual delegated budgets they have a responsibility to ensure that the procurement of goods, works and services represents the most cost-effective and best-possible value for money option.  The Directorate for Children, Young People and Families' Procurement Section provides a brokerage service for schools, which aims to provide a range of quality approved providers of services that schools can access and use with total confidence.
BSF Building Schools for the Future
Cashless catering This is a mechanism that allows parents and students to put money into an electronic system which students use to pay for food and drink without the need to carry money.
Content This is the name given to the resources that can be found on a learning platform (see below) that can be accessed by both learners and teachers to support learning.
Data centre This is the location that is the centre of the network that connects schools networks (LANs) to other resources. This includes storage facilities for electronic material, the Internet.
DCSF  Department for Children, Schools and Families
DDA Disability Discrimination Act
Every Child Matters This is the framework that the government is using to bring together the care needs of children. It has five main areas of focus that cover all aspects of child welfare including health and education. For further details, visit the Every Child Matters website.
ICT  Information Communication Technology
LA Local Authority
LAN Local Area Networks are the connections that are formed between computers and other equipment on a single site such as a school.
Learning platform This is a tool that gives access to a range of tools and resources that can be accessed both in and out of school. (See virtual learning environment)
LEP Local Education Partnership
LSC  Learning and Skills Council
Managed service for ICT This is the service that will maintain the ICT equipment in school.   Under BSF it replaces the brokerage arrangements for ICT support.
Management information system This is the computer system that schools use to store and manage information including student attainment, attendance and behaviour.
Passive network infrastructure This is the description given to the parts of a network that do not analyse data but allow data to pass through it. For example: cables and sockets.
Personal Digital Assistants Personal Digital Assistants are small computers that can held in a hand. They are some times better know as Palm tops. Well known devices include iPod, Touch and Palm.
Personalised learning This is the process by which education is tailored to suit the needs and aspirations of the learner.
Personalised learning portfolios A tool that allows learners to collect together and organise a range of work and other evidence such as exemplar work, qualification certificates and CVs that they wish to share with others organisations such as employers and exam boards.
PFI  Private Finance Initiative
Portal This is a system that allows authorised users to gain access to a range of tools or content such a Virtual Learning Environment or student work and information such as attainment data.
Proximity card This is a smart  card that can be used for multiple purposes e.g. to gain access or for cashless payments. This type of card does not need to come in contact with the reader but can be read from a distance.  See smart card.

RSS 
(Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary)

This is a feed that delivers updates to users for regular changing web content such as news items eg BBC news.
SEN  Special educational needs
SIMS A management information system for schools.
Smart Card A Smart Card is normally a pocket sized card that contains an embedded chip that contains data about the user. In schools this can include dinner money or library details. These are similar to the devices used in credit cards.  See proximity card.
Smart Phone This type of phone offers more than the functionality expected to be found on a normal mobile phone. This is often functionality associated with a computer e.g. Internet access or instant messaging.
Spreadsheet This is a tool that can be found on many computers and can be used in a variety of ways. For example, it can be used by accountants to manage financial activity and calculations.
Studywiz This is the Virtual Learning Environment or VLE (see below) provided for schools through the Barnsley MBC and will be managed through the Building Schools for the Future project.
TUPE Transfer Undertaking Protection of Employment Rights.  This is covered by UK and EU legislation.
VLE
(Virtual Learning Environment)		 Virtual Learning Environment
Virtual workspaces These are locations where learners and teachers can store content that they create or download. These are normally located in a place that can be accessed from any location, for example home, library or school.
Wide area network This is system that allows computers and electronic systems on different geographical sites to communicate with each other.
Wi-Fi Wireless Access to Computers and the internet.  The term is often used to describe wireless access. (see wireless access)
Wiki  A Wiki is a page or series of pages that can be found on the internet that allow users to contribute to or edit. This tool supports collaborative work between students.
Wireless access This is a method of connecting a computer or other device to a network or the internet without the use of cables or wires. It allows the user of the device to work anywhere they wish within the area covered by the wireless signal.
WLANs Wireless Local Area Network is the connection of two or more computers or devices using wireless access.
 

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