Education (UK)

Balfour Beatty Capital’s schools schemes are managed by Transform Schools, one of the largest providers of school education facilities in the UK.

Transform Schools works in partnership with local authorities to improve educational attainment through the design, building and management of inspirational learning environments.

Transform’s portfolio comprises eight large-scale schools schemes with £54m of committed equity investment, including £5m at preferred bidder stage.

Of the eight schemes, five are fully operational with new facilities in North Lanarkshire in Scotland and Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire having come on stream in 2008.

Transform Schools is now responsible for a total estate of 164 primary and secondary schools, and two leisure centres, spread over five major schemes in Stoke, Rotherham, North Lanarkshire, Bassetlaw and Birmingham.

In July, Transform reached financial close on Phase 1 of the Islington Schools (BSF) PPP programme. This is Transform Schools’ first BSF project comprising the Local Educational Partnership delivery model, the model under which the majority of BSF projects are likely to be procured in the future.

The concession will project manage and deliver new and refurbished accommodation at two schools together with facilities management and ICT managed services. In addition, a new school will be delivered.

Over the next five years, a further two phases will be delivered comprising five schools and two pupil referral units.

In November, Transform was appointed as preferred bidder for the £200m Southwark Schools for the Future programme. Financial close is scheduled for the second quarter of 2009, with the first new schools opening in September 2010 and 2011.

Good progress is being made on the construction of seven new learning centres under the £163m Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council PPP concession, which reached financial close in December 2007.

Bids are in preparation for Sandwell, Cambridgeshire, Hull, and Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton schools projects.