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SCHOOLS across Hillingdon are set to benefit from a multi-million pound investment over the next few years.

Education chiefs in the borough have started making plans to rebuild and renovate schools in the south of the borough with £150m which has been made available by the Government as part of a national scheme.

The programme, dubbed Building Schools for the 21st Century by council chiefs, is set to rebuild the borough's crumbling classrooms for the next 30 years.

Chris Spencer, Hillingdon Council's director of children's services, said: "We are just starting the consultation period on this programme and have held a conference with head teachers to get their thoughts on what should be done.

"What we are looking to do is look at each of the schools, particularly secondary schools, in the borough and see how we can get improve them to make them ready for the demands of education over the next 30 years.

"We are looking at what will be required in order to make them fit for purpose over that time, although it is a big question given how many advances there have been over the past 30 years in education and methods.

"It is not just about replacing old schools with new ones, it's about putting in the infrastructure and putting schools at the heart of the communities they serve."

The council must submit its redevelopment plans to the government to get the green light to receive the £150m, which includes £75m in a grant and £75m in private finance initiatives.

To kick-start the consultation, head teachers from secondary schools across the borough were invited to a brainstorming session at Eton school's exclusive Dorney Lake rowing facility last Friday.

Mr Spencer continued: "We have thrashed out the main questions which need to be answered, like should we site special schools and primary schools on the same campus as secondary schools?

"The consultation will include parents and staff at schools and we expect it to last until summer 2009 when the final decisions will be made."

The first new schools to be built through the plans are expected to be completed in 2013, and Mr Spencer promised no playing fields would be lost during the changes.

David Henderson, the headteacher of Abbotsfield School in Uxbridge, said: "Buildings are the important third strand in education. A lot of people are very excited because it is a real opportunity and there is real money on the table.

"From the point of view of a headteacher, it is about being able to control and locate resources in a more effective way.

"So much the better if we can locate primary schools and special schools in the same place as secondary schools, as children will just have to travel across a campus when they change schools, not across Hillingdon.

"They can also share the improved facilities secondary schools have to offer."

Currently money has only been made available to schools in the south of the borough, below the A40. Schools in the north will have funding made available as part of the next wave of funding.

For more information visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/schools

9:29am Friday 9th May 2008

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