A NEW high school planned to cope with the borough's rising population is a step closer after a contractor was chosen to carry out the work.

It is to be sited on the old GlaxoSmithKline Sports and Leisure Club in Oldfield Lane North, which the council bought from the pharmaceutical company last summer.

On Thursday the town hall appointed Balfour Beatty Education to carry out construction in the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
The government scheme will see £300m invested in the borough, £12m of it coming from schools and the council.

As well as the new school, 17 high schools and special schools will be rebuilt and refurbished and 15 provided with new computing equipment.
Balfour Beatty Education has drawn up detailed plans for the first two schools to benefit, Dormers Wells High School, Southall, is to be completely rebuilt and Cardinal Wiseman School, Greenford, will be partially rebuilt and remodelled. Both will receive new computers and equipment.

Construction on both schools is to start in October with upgrades at the other schools planned between 2011 and 2013. All work is expected to be complete by 2014.

Ealing Council's chief executive Martin Smith said: "I'm delighted to announce this important milestone in Ealing’s BSF programme. We're proud of our high performing schools and this investment will build on those achievements and help to secure even more success.

"The bids we received were of a very high quality, and I am convinced that Balfour Beatty Education is the right company to work with us in delivering improved schools which will inspire pupils, parents and staff."

The proposals are being fine-tuned between the council and Balfour Beatty Education and the contract is to be formally awarded in September.
All plans are subject to planning consent and will be consulted upon.