Warning on new schools

A report by the influential Commons education select committee warned against "rushing" headlong into school building projects without first taking "due time, care and attention".

Concerns were also raised about the use of controversial Private Finance Initiative deals - such as that which will fund new buildings for Newfield and Silverdale schools and a new home for Talbot Special School.

MPs on the committee said PFI contracts can prove "extremely expensive" if a new school bankrolled by private firms later has to close because of falling school rolls.

The select committee's report follows an inquiry into the government's 45 billion drive to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school in the country - called Building Schools for the Future.

One of the most ambitious BSF projects embarked on so far is in Sheffield, where about 400 million will be spent on major improvement works in every city school.

The landmark scheme is taking place over two phases and will be completed by 2012.

The committee's report said that schools have often felt rushed into making decisions under BSF.

MPs urged greater involvement of teachers and pupils in the planning process. Committee chairman Barry Sheerman MP said: "The project's success lies in clear thinking and early planning, not in rushing to meet self-imposed deadlines.

"If the aim of BSF is to transform the educational experiences of pupils and to embed sustainability, then due time, care and attention must be taken to get it right."

The report also said there are "risks associated with PFI as a funding method".

PFI deals sees private firms funding the design, building and subsequent maintenance of new schools and then collecting monthly payments from taxpayers under contracts which normally run for between 25 and 30 years.

PFI has already been used to rebuild eight schools in Sheffield and now the council and the government have teamed up with a consortium led by construction giant Taylor Woodrow as part of the next phase of work.