Bracknell

Garth Hill College will be completely rebuilt in a £25million project if Bracknell Forest Borough Council's Executive gives it the go-ahead this week.

The project would involve constructing a brand new school, demolishing the old buildings and providing top class sports facilities for use by students and the local community.

Bracknell Councillors will consider a report on Tuesday (July 25) recommending Garth Hill be designated for funding under the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Building Schools for the Future scheme. This offers cash to rebuild one school.

The Council applied to DfES for funds to rebuild Garth Hill back in 2003 and consulted the local community and education specialists on a masterplan for the redevelopment of the school.

That bid was turned down in February 2004 because it had prioritised schools in more deprived areas.

But now DfES has said money will be made available for Bracknell Forest where rebuilding will have the greatest impact.

The masterplan including estimated costs would be resubmitted to DfES in the autumn after which the Council will be told exactly how much money it will get for the project. A further report on the project would then be presented to Executive.

If councillors approve the report on Tuesday the masterplan will be implemented in three phases:

* Phase one - creation of new playing field facilities on the Bull Lane field;
* Phase two - construction of new school buildings on the existing playing field;
* Phase three - disposal and demolition of the old school buildings.

The scheme would be completed so students could enter the new school by September 2009.

Tony Eccleston, Director of Bracknell Education, Children's Services and Libraries, said: "In terms of its physical structure Garth Hill needs a major overhaul to provide the kind of learning environment children need in the twenty first century.

"This is the opportunity to provide state-of-the-art facilities for the specialist technology college and add other vocational facilities too."

Cllr Alan Ward, Executive Member for Bracknell Education and Libraries, said: "The prospect of a brand new school with top class facilities is now much closer. I am pleased the government has now responded to the vigorous representations we have made on behalf of Garth Hill.

"The school has been improving steadily for a number of years and has the confidence of the people in its area.

"It has been my determination for several years to provide first class education for the people of north Bracknell. This will be the final piece in the jigsaw."

The DfES Building Schools for the Future programme sets out how every secondary school in the country, including Bracknell Forest's six secondaries, will be rebuilt or renewed over the next 15 years.

The One School Pathfinder programme, under which Garth Hill would be rebuilt, assists some Councils that would come towards the end of the main programme.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council