First BSF schools open in Lancashire

The first major wave of schools designed and built by the government’s BSF (Building Schools for the Future) programme have opened now in Lancashire.

Seven new ground-breaking schools – catering for over 2000 students - have opened over three sites - Burnley (Burnley Campus), Nelson (Pendle Vale) and Padiham (Shuttleworth College).

Capita Symonds is providing educational, partnering, architectural and engineering services on a number of the projects which have been specifically designed to transform the way that learning takes place – a core objective of the BSF initiative – as well as reflecting the needs of the wider community.

The Capita Symonds multi-disciplinary team has been led by Project Director, Simon Jones; Design Director, Richard Dinsdale; Lead Consultant Lucy Dean and Alan Ayre; Director of Educational Projects James Cowlishaw; and with educational support from Jane Longfield.

The £29m Pendle Vale College and Pendle Vale High School site in Nelson (below) brings together two schools under one roof with the aim of achieving greater integration between the two. The sloping site has been used to create a new local landmark with a building that rises in tiers to four storeys and is capped by a sweeping roofline. Sports pitches and indoor sports resources are all built to Sports England standards to support the school’s aims to achieve specialist sports college status.

Burnley Campus (below) is the biggest of three sites and contains schools for both sixth form and primary students, costing £31 million to build and equip . It boasts a 50-place nursery and children’s centre; a library and faith centre; all-weather sports pitches; fitness centre; climbing wall; sports hall; and hydrotherapy pool.

Finally, the £20m Shuttleworth College in Padiham (below) features an entrance area dominated by a dramatic floor-to-ceiling atrium that echoes the designs of modern office buildings. Facilities include a dance studio, sports hall, fitness room, tennis courts, all weather sports pitches, a café and faith centre.

“The projects demonstrate the positive impact design can have on developing new ways of learning, supporting the 14- 19 agenda around vocational learning, and encouraging students to stay on for Further Education,” said James Cowlishaw Capita Symonds' Director of Educational Projects, and LEP Director.

This year marks the biggest opening of new schools for decades with 51 new academies, 24 funded by Building Schools for the Future and more than 150 other new build schools.