Wolverhampton has a “big job” on its hands in raising standards in education, the boss of the multi-billion pound Building Schools For The Future programme admitted today.
However, Tim Byles, chief executive of Partnership For Schools, told the Express & Star that he was confident that the project, worth £300 million in the city, would improve standards, behaviour and attendance.
Yesterday, Wolverhampton and Sandwell formally joined waves five and six of the project, which aims to rebuild or revamp every one of the country’s 3,500 state secondary schools in the biggest capital investment for more than 50 years.
Both areas came in the bottom 10 nationally for GCSEs and A-levels in last week’s league tables.
Mr Byles said: “We are aiming to change the face of education for generations to come. Nationally, there are hundreds of thousands of children being taught in buildings from the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
“Students are being taught in the same school buildings as their parents and even grandparents.
“Good school design plays a role in improving behaviour and attendance, and making schools safer and more welcoming places.
“There is a big job to do in Wolverhampton and Sandwell, which is why we are thinking about forging links with several organisations in the areas as well as focusing on the investment.
“It is early days in Wolverhampton but already we are seeing good work. The new schools will instill a fresh sense of pride in students, and I am confident we will see a huge reduction in bad behaviour and truancy.
“Young people respond and behave better if they feel they have been invested and believed in. We have seen that already in places like London.”
Mr Byles said Wolverhampton would also benefit from having a high number of schools rebuilt. Work in the city is to start in 2010 and will include the rebuilding of Highfields, Heath Park Business & Enterprise College and Tettenhall Wood.
Two academies, one in Bilston and another in the north of the city, will also be built.
By Education Reporter Elizabeth Joyce
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