The Programme

The Barnsley programme represents the largest ever capital investment in the borough and is unique across the country as it involves the replacement of all of the Borough’s secondary schools estate with 9 new build Advanced Learning Centres, combined with the considerably improved special school estate and the provision of an integrated managed ICT service.

The Barnsley BSF programme will enable the Council to:

• replace all of its 13 secondary schools with 9 completely new build Advanced Learning Centres (ALCs)
• replace fully one of its two special schools, along with
• half of its other special school, with the remainder being brought up to modern standards

The programme will deliver cutting edge design and ICT solutions in three phases, with all of the ALCs planned to be built and open by 2011/12.  The schools involved in the first phase are: Edward Sheerien/Royston, Penistone Grammar, Dearne High, Darton, Kirk Balk. Following in phases 2 and 3 are: Priory/Willowgarth, Springwell, Greenacre, Foulstone/Wombwell, St Michael’s Catholic and CE High, and Holgate/Kingstone.

The new educational facilities will feature state of the art physical and virtual facilities for Barnsley’s secondary and special pupils, adult learners, teachers, support staff and others involved in the teaching and learning environment.  Specifically, the programme will deliver flexible learning spaces with greatly enhanced ICT provision, including better access to data and resources and a wider spread of portable devices, as well as modern learning resources, social facilities, circulation and social spaces, and vastly improved sports and leisure facilities.