Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Building schools for the future

Welcome to Future Learning

Building Schools for the Future in Stockton-on-Tees

Stockton-on-Tees is at the beginning of big changes in secondary education. The Government will invest more than £180 million to help transform educational opportunities for young people right across the borough. We call this Future Learning.

What is BSF?

Building Schools for the Future is a national, Government funded initiative which aims to transform education across the country.  It will see state secondary schools remodelled or rebuilt to ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to learn in a 21st Century environment, therefore assisting them in reaching their full potential.

The Borough of Stockton-on-Tees is divided into two areas for BSF.  The Government placed these areas (along with all other areas in England) in an order of priority based on educational and social need.

The secondary schools in Stockton itself, the proposed Academy for Thornaby, St Patrick's RC School in Thornaby, Northfield School and St Michael's RC School in Billingham, Abbey Hill Special School, Westlands Special School and the Bishopton Centre are in Wave 6.  The rest of the Borough has been allocated 64th place in the first list of national follow on projects, however we have not received any indication about the timescales relating to this list.  The full list can be found at www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/resourcesfinanceandbuilding/bsf/rnp/

Our Vision

The Stockton-on-Tees BSF programme is called "Future Learning" and is based around an inclusive "Campus Stockton" theme.  This is a vision for transforming learning across the Borough's family of schools and colleges.  The collegiate approach will see a broad curriculum of both academic subjects and vocational studies offered across the area's educational institutions.  The proposals aim to ensure all of our students have high aspirations and an opportunity to reach their full potential.  Access to flexible learning environments in 21st Century buildings will allow our young people to make the most of their diverse talents. "Campus Stockton" will enable all young people to access learning opportunities relevant to their needs and aspirations at any of the Borough's schools. They will no longer be restricted to learning at a single establishment throughout their entire school career.  This means that following the completion of the first schools all of our young people will benefit from the new facilities even if the school they attend is not part of the initial wave.

The vision is based around three key principles:

Putting the learner first - giving every young person more choice of what to learn, from a very broad curriculum of academic subjects and vocational studies.

Schools at the heart of the community - secondary schools forming an integrated centre for community services such as health care, social care and youth services.

Every school will be a good school - we already have some very good schools, "Future Learning" will build on this and raise standards even further.