BAM announced preferred bidder for £600 million schools programme

The first phase will be the £100 million rebuilding of Bridgwater's four secondary and two special schools, with construction work expected to begin shortly after Financial Close in June 2010.

• 1050 pupil Chilton Trinity Technology College
• 900 pupil East Bridgwater Community School
• 900 pupil Robert Blake Science College and 60 pupil Elmwood School
• 1050 pupil Haygrove School and 50 pupil Penrose School

BAM will also be Somerset County Council's (SCC) private sector partner for the Local Education Partnership (LEP), the company which will be established specifically for the delivery of the BSF Programme and the transformation of education across Somerset.

The LEP's dedicated management team will work with SCC over the next 10 years to ensure that their vision for education transformation leverages wider regeneration and socio-economic opportunities. It aims to:

• help raise standards in education and life-long learning
• support the school staff and pupils in making the most of the new school facilities and resources
• undertake wide ranging activities for students to be involved in the building and running of their school, providing informal curriculum and personal development opportunities
• deliver value for money and continuous improvement that translates into reduced costs to develop, construct and operate future schools in Somerset,
• actively promote and support participation in community use and leisure activities through programmes for sport, arts and culture, and family and adult learning within the new school facilities,
• work with BAM?s local supply chain to offer a tailored programme of mentoring activities, work placements, and training opportunities for pupils, staff and the local community, to support the regeneration of the local economy.

Julia Ridge, Somerset BSF Programme Director, said: "We are delighted to have a partner of such calibre to create first class, state of the art schools for Bridgwater and help take the Somerset BSF programme forward in the future."

Robert Young, Director of BAM PPP, said: "Across the whole BAM organisation we are thoroughly delighted at having been appointed by Somerset County Council as its partner for such an exciting and wide reaching programme of work. We look forward to working with the Council, schools, communities and other stakeholders in Bridgwater, and thereafter across Somerset, to make the Somerset BSF Programme a huge success for all concerned."

Further information:

Arno Pronk, Royal BAM Group, +31 (0)30 659 86 21;

Vicki Harris, BAM PPP, 0141 779 8600;

Mark Slattery, BAM Construct UK, 01442 23 8415