Schools revamp begins ‘new era’

11:31am Monday 18th February 2008

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THREE schools are to benefit from a multi-million pound investment by the Government.

Plans to revamp Northfleet Technology College, Northfleet School for Girls and Gravesend's St John's Catholic Comprehensive will start this summer.

The work will be undertaken through the Government's Building Schools for the Future programme which aims to renew or rebuild every secondary school in England over a 10 to 15-year period.

Land Securities Trillium and IT specialist Northgate Information Solutions are completing the first phase of Kent's Building Schools programme.

Kent County Council cabinet member for education operations, resources and skills Councillor Mark Dance said: "The programme marks the start of a new era for education in the county."

Phase one is a £600m partnership between the county council, the two companies and Partnerships for Schools, which oversees the programme.

It will see the refurbishment or rebuilding of secondary schools in the Gravesham, Swale and Thanet districts by 2014.

The three schools will get new buildings and computer equipment.

Exhibitions will be held at all the schools to show the plans for them, with St John's, in Rochester Road, holding an exhibition on February 25 between 6pm and 9pm.

Northfleet School for Girls, in Hall Road, will hold an exhibition on February 26 between 6pm and 8pm, while Northfleet Technology College, in Colyer Road, will hold its event on February 28 from 6pm to 9pm.

St John's headteacher, John Stanley, said: "For the community of St John's to be involved in building a whole new learning environment fit for the 21st Century is like winning the lottery."

Work on the schools will start this summer, with Northfleet School for Girls being completed during 2009 and Northfleet Technology College and St John's in 2010.

Northfleet Technology College headteacher John Hassett said: "Learning will be a wonderful experience, where open spaces, natural lighting and advanced technology will nurture understanding and ignite creativity."

For details about the Kent's Building Schools for the Future programme, visit kent.gov.uk/bsf