Sheffield BSF gains momentum as second school tops out

Feb 25 2008

Pupils from Newfield and Talbot schools in Sheffield donned hard hats and trowels to help with the construction of their brand new school, by laying the final piece of concrete to ‘top out’ the building.

The celebration was held to mark the completion of the concrete frame of the school, being built by Taylor Woodrow as part of the Building Schools for Future (BSF) programme. They were joined by representatives from Taylor Woodrow, Sheffield City Council, teachers and site workers.

It is the second facility to reach the major milestone after Yewlands Technology College was topped out in December.

The children involved in the ceremony were the winners of an art competition held earlier in the year by Taylor Woodrow, which challenged pupils to create their own piece of art illustrating their impressions of their new school.

The £33 million Newfield and Talbot school project will create new learning facilities for the co-located Newfield school and Talbot school – an innovative, specialist school for young people with complex learning difficulties.

Andrew Percival, Public Sector Director for Taylor Woodrow, said: “The celebration has resulted from a great deal of hard work and determination from all those involved in the project – and we’re excited to see the building starting to form. We look forward to a continued successful relationship with Sheffield City Council to provide excellent education facilities for the city.”

Cllr Harry Harpham, Sheffield City Council's Cabinet Member for Children's Services, also commented: "I'm thrilled that the students of Newfield and Talbot schools are so passionate about their new school. It really is a radical project, and one that will make a huge difference to the community and to the city."

The BSF Sheffield school building programme is one of the largest in the country and is being completed by Paradigm – a consortium led by Taylor Woodrow. It will ensure the rebuilding, refurbishing and/or upgrading ICT provision for all of Sheffield's secondary schools, including those for pupils with special needs.

Phase one of BSF Sheffield began in March 2007, with the schools due to be open in January 2009. The full BSF programme in Sheffield is scheduled to be completed in September 2013 and its value is estimated at nearly £400m.

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Picture caption:

Taylor Woodrow topping out ceremony at Newfield and Talbot Schools Sheffield
Image 1: left to right Cllr Garry Weatherall, Cllr Terry Fox, Taylor Woodrow Public sector Director Andrew Percival, Cabinet Member Cllr Harry Harpam, Director of Paradime Sheffield and L.E.P. Geoff Quaife and Pupils Anthony Baggley, Danny Wallis and Grace Baxter

Image 2: Anthony Baggley, Danny Wallis, Cllr Garry Weatherall, Cllr Terry Fox, Taylor Woodrow Public sector Director Andrew Percival, Cabinet Member Cllr Harry Harpam, Director of Paradigm Sheffield and L.E.P. Geoff Quaife and pupil Grace Baxter

Notes to editors:
Taylor Woodrow’s primary business is in repeat services for ‘Blue Chip’ clients, facilities management and Private Finance Initiatives.
Taylor Woodrow is a subsidiary of Taylor Wimpey plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
For further information please visit the company’s web site – www.taylorwoodrow.com

For further press information and photography, please contact:
Ian Dutton
Haslimann Taylor PR
0121 355 3446
ian@haslimanntaylor.com