Schools revamp contract won by builders

Education chiefs have chosen Catalyst Lend Lease to build the first phase of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

The company will build Shuttleworth Community College, on the Gawthorpe High site in Padiham; Burnley's new multi-faith sixth form and a new primary and special school in Barden Lane; Pendle Vale Community College and the special school Pendle Community High both on the Walton High site, Nelson.

Coun Alan Whittaker, county cabinet member for education, said: "This announcement is another step along the road to transforming education in Burnley and Pendle and a strong reflection of our commitment to these areas. We are one step closer to seeing these pioneering schools taking shape.

"I am very excited by the new learning opportunities that these schools will provide and the way that new technology will link the schools together to further benefit the pupils and parents."

Catalyst bills itself as one of the major providers of public finance initiative (PFI) schemes and has already built 14 PFI schools.

The consortium is made up of several bodies including Captia Symonds Group, which provides educational services, Redstone Communications, which provides IT systems and is funded by the Halifax Bank of Scotland Group.

Building on the first schools will begin this autumn and they should open in September 2008.

The first phase does not involve the proposed Unity and Hameldon Colleges in Burnley or Marsden Heights school in Brierfield.

Phase two should start in autumn 2007 and the final phase in 2008.

Jason Millett, chief executive of Catalyst said: "I know we will be able to offer some attractive and imaginative solutions to Lancashire's long-term education needs. We are excited by the prospect and look forward to starting work soon on the first of this new generation of schools."

An open evening will be held at Turf Moor, 6pm and 7pm on March 16, to show off the plans.