COUNCILS bosses have launched a bid to find a private sector partner to build and remodel nine secondary schools in Blackburn with Darwen.

Seven groups of contractors – or consortia – took part in a special bidder day to find out more about the borough’s £150m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme and a partnership with Bolton Council.

The two councils have joined forces to form a Local Education Partnership, which means the selected developer will rebuild or redevelop all 26 schools in the BSF programme in both boroughs.

Prospective bidders took part in fact finding workshops and also toured Darwen Vale and Pleckgate High Schools, the first two schools scheduled for work from 2010. Proposals to transform secondary education in Blackburn with Darwen are included in a submitted outline case.

Under the plans:

  • Pleckgate and Witton Park schools will be rebuilty on the existing sites.
  • Blakewater will be replaced with a new east Blackburn community school, with the earmarked site the golf driving range in Haslingden Road.
  • Darwen Vale, St Bede’s RC and Our Lady and St John will be remodelled, including some new buildings.
  • Beardwood will close in July 2012 due, council bosses say, to changing pupil numbers.
  • Tauheedul Islam Girls High School will relocate to the Beardwood site.
  • Crosshill school will be co-located on the site of the new east Blackburn community school.