National law firm Bevan Brittan has advised Bristol City Council and Partnerships for Schools (PfS) on the first school to open as part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. The Bristol Brunel Academy, one of the four pathfinder schemes in the BSF programme was officially opened today by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The £24 million school in Bristol was the first of the pathfinder schemes to reach financial close in July 2006. The school is not only the first to be delivered under the £30 billion capital investment programme but it has also been delivered as an Academy. The opening of the new Academy is part of the first phase of the rebuilding of several colleges and schools in central Bristol which includes Brislington Enterprise College, Hartcliffe Engineering Community College and Whitefield Fishponds Community School.

The BSF programme is the Government’s national programme which brings together significant investment in buildings and ICT through a complete transformation of all England’s secondary schools. The 15 year programme will see new schools built and existing schools upgraded to meet the needs of communities in the 21st century.

The Bristol BSF programme has been funded through central Government Private Finance Initiative credits worth £150.7 million together with £9.5 million of the council’s own funds.

Partnerships for Schools developed a standard procurement model for the BSF programme, involving the creation of a public-private partnership joint venture - the Local Education Partnership, or LEP. The Bristol LEP was invested in by Skanska, the preferred bidder, Partnerships for Schools and the Council.  It will be responsible for the integration of ICT as part of the new facilities and for the redevelopment of the remainder of the Bristol Schools estate over the next ten years.

Commenting on the opening of the new Academy Projects and PFI partner David Hunter said: “We are delighted to have been involved in this project, it is extremely pleasing to see a project that has involved many years of work come to fruition.  The opening of this Academy is a significant milestone in the delivery of the BSF programme and a solution to the legacy of underinvestment in education and will deliver high quality schools for the future.” 

Bevan Brittan advised Partnerships for Schools on the procurement and national strategy of the BSF programme and is the only firm to have close BSF schemes for both the public and private sectors.

Skanska were advised by Allen & Overy, Veale Wasbrough advised Mouchel Parkman, DLA Piper advised the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.