Work begins on schools initiative

The £1bn investment will fund building costs and maintenance work

Construction work has started on a £1bn project to replace Barnsley's secondary schools with learning centres.

Thirteen schools will be replaced with nine Advanced Learning Centres, with the first due to open in 2011.

The investment is part of the government's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative.

One of the town's two schools for children with special needs will be replaced and the other will be refurbished, Barnsley Council said.

The £1bn will fund building costs and maintenance work at the schools for 25 years.

Our BSF programme will bring fantastic benefits for everyone in Barnsley for generations to come.

Edna Sutton, Barnsley Council

Barnsley Council said the schools would be at the heart of the centres, which will also provide facilities for adult learning and employ wellbeing teams.

Construction work has started at the site of the £27m Carlton Community College which will be created from the merger of Edward Sheerien and Royston High schools.

Edna Sutton, the council's executive director for children, young people and families said: "This is the climax to six years work and represents a bold educational vision which will give Barnsley the best schools in the country.

"Our BSF programme will bring fantastic benefits for everyone in Barnsley for generations to come.

"Our desire is to transform the aspirations and life chances of everyone in Barnsley."