Authorities get ready for school

Up to 10 new Building Schools for the Future schemes, worth an estimated £750m, are to be let this summer, ahead of schedule, as part of Partnerships for Schools' drive to speed-up the delivery of the government's BSF programme.

The plan, revealed in CJ last month, allows local authorities in Wave 7 to 9 to bring forward part of their BSF scheme, so long as they can prove they are ready to deliver.

This first Interim Wave of fast-tracked schemes was selected from 19 local authorities that bid for the chance to bring forward their projects. Each scheme will deliver up to five schools each.