Schools and learning

The draft programme for Stevenage

Hertfordshire County Council and the schools across Hertfordshire have been working collaboratively to develop an education vision for Hertfordshire schools. This has been developed further by the schools and colleges in Stevenage to produce a specific education vision for Stevenage. These visions have been developed into a ‘Strategy for Change’, which will co-ordinate the education vision with an assessment of the existing school estate.

From mid 2008, an Outline Business Case will be produced, which will set out detailed proposals to re-build or refurbish the Stevenage schools. Once approved by the government, Hertfordshire will complete a procurement exercise to seek a private sector partner who will work with Hertfordshire to redevelop the schools and provide a managed ICT service. This procurement process takes a long time, but it is expected that the first phase of construction in Stevenage will start in 2010.

Key Dates	Proposed project
Autumn 2007	Schools work on individual school strategies for change. Initial design outlines will be developed with architects. Strategy For Change (Part 2) document submitted for approval to the DCSF (previously DfES)
Summer 2008	Hertfordshire’s outline business case submitted and the procurement process begins
2009	Preferred bidder announced
2010	Building work is expected to start