The Tilehurst Learning Campus - From Planning to Action

The Tilehurst Learning Campus has changed focus - we will now deliver an alternative programme of first class facilities to Denefield and Brookfields Schools

Last year West Berkshire Council sent out a newsletter informing the public of the plans for the TLC Project. The situation at the time was that we had identified a funding gap and were in consultation with central government. In consequence we put forward three steps to be taken:

1. Prepare a detailed feasibility on a two school option so that we could be ready to move forward should central government bring forward the Council's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) funding.
2. Identify how best to spend the balance already awarded to the project, should our application for earlier BSF funding not be successful.
3. Examine which essential works could be undertaken to maintain and improve the school buildings, thereby continuing to provide a good standard of education.

Since that time the Council has been working diligently to bring progress to the project. Working with the architects, Scott Brownrigg, a detailed feasibility on the project was produced. In addition an application to bring the Council forward in the BSF Programme was submitted in October 2008. We received feedback from central government in Spring 2009. Unfortunately, despite encouraging early indications from the Minister, the Government has decided not to make any more funding available for this, or any other secondary school project in West Berkshire, for the foreseeable future. Therefore it has been decided that we must now concentrate on our second option; the monies that the project has already been awarded will be used to fund refurbishment and partial rebuild at Denefield and Brookfields schools with detailed design work moving forward as quickly as possible.

In the meantime works have been carried out to maintain the fabric of the two schools. In line with the school's priorities, toilets at Denefield have been refurbished and a new 6^thForm block is being put in place at a cost of £300,000. Other minor works have also been undertaken by the school in the last two years including the upgrading of lighting and air conditioning, as well as safety work to the windows. At Brookfields the school has liaised with the Council on their plans to provide a new modular building. The school has also embarked on a programme of replacing windows and making better use of space.

The Council are keen to invest in the developing focus of both schools and are committed to providing first class education in appropriately designed, high quality, energy efficient buildings that will be accessible to all.

One aspect of the original TLC scheme was the development of sports and leisure facilities, including community access. This theme has not been lost and is being taken forward as a part of a holistic strategy under the direction of the Council's Eastern Vision Task Group.