TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are being urged to agree to an education partnership with neighbouring Halton to speed up and reduce the cost of renewing secondary schools in both boroughs.
The partnership would bring the benefits of the national Building Schools for the Future programme to Warrington sooner than would otherwise be possible – with work on
new William Beamont and Penketh high schools started in 2011 and being completed by 2013.
The deal would involve joint procurement of a Local Education Partnership (LEP).
A report will go to Warrington’s executive board on Monday recommending a joint LEP with Halton.
Halton’s executive board will be receiving a similar report
The Building Schools for the Future programme (BSF) is said to be the biggest-ever school buildings investment programme, with the aim of rebuilding or renewing every secondary school in England.
Joint procurement should cut costs and offer other significant benefits to both authorities.
Warrington’s BSF could be brought forward because Halton is at a more advanced stage of the process and has already acquired much experience.
Initially four Warrington high schools would benefit – William Beamont, Penketh, Sir Thomas Boteler and Padgate.
Eventually, however, all secondary schools in the borough would benefit.
The report to go to the executive board states the average attainment level across the selected schools is “very low.”
William Beamont has been categorised as a National Challenge School which means the Government will expect the council to deliver a radical change to current education practice to bring about the “necessary step change in performance.”
The four Warrington schools identified for inclusion in the initial project have all been consulted and have given their full support to the proposals.
