A series of design showcase events in April and May will unveil the plans for the first schools to be transformed under Sandwell's multi-million pound Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

BSF aims to rebuild or renew every secondary school in the borough over the next few years, transforming education through the use of ICT, driving up educational achievement and increasing community access to facilities in schools.

There will be a chance to see the proposals for the programme's first sites, the Rowley Learning Campus and the Smethwick Learning Campus, at the Council Chamber at Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury.

Members of the public are invited to drop in anytime on Thursday 30 April from 9am-4pm.


Parents, pupils, staff and residents can drop by to view the plans for Rowley Learning Campus at The Westminster School, Westminster Road, West Bromwich on Tuesday 28 April, from 6-9pm, with a further opportunity at St Michael's CE High School A Business and Enterprise College, Throne Road, Rowley Regis, on Tuesday 19 May, also from 6-9pm.

A similar design showcase will be held for Smethwick residents to see how their new campus will shape up at Holly Lodge Foundation High School College of Science in Holly Lane on Tuesday 5 May from 6-9pm.

Councillor Ian Jones, Sandwell's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "These events are being held at a variety of venues and times so that the maximum amount of parents, pupils and local residents can drop in to see the plans.

"I am sure that everyone will be very excited to see how these new campuses will look and to learn how they will be benefiting generations of learners, as well as the local community, for many years to come."

Melanie Dudley, Director of Transformation, said: "People can drop in at a time to suit them, take a look at the proposals and meet representatives from the BSF project team and Environments for Learning, the programme's private sector partner."

Dudley said it is anticipated that work will begin at these sites by the summer, with the rest of Sandwell's secondary schools to follow in a programme stretching to 2013.

(GK/JM)