Schools rebuilding programme will be hard work, warns CABE

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has warned today (Friday) that the real work on Building Schools for the Future programme to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school in England has only just started.

School standards minister David Miliband unveiled a new portfolio of school designs commissioned from some of the best architects in the country. The designs show exciting examples of what the 21st century schools could look like.

CABE has been working with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) for over a year on the scheme, providing a critical review at all stages.

CABE chief executive Jon Rouse said: "The exemplar designs published today all have something to offer. But they are not the finished article. Each of the designs now needs to be adapted and developed for real schools on real sites.

"Every new school building project will require a high quality design team to achieve an excellent building. But what is great at this stage is that DfES are taking the issue of good quality design very seriously in making the link between good design and educational attainment."