Schools charity boss backs rebuilding programme

David Bell, chairman of the education charity the Transformation Trust, has said that “the upgrading of the country’s schools is vital for improving childrens’ self-confidence,” despite the government’s axing of the £55bn Building Schools for the Future programme.

Speaking on Tuesday on the sidelines of a Transformation Trust event at London’s O2, he said that although buildings were not everything, they “really contribute to young people’s sense of self-worth”.

Despite the BSF cancellation, the Trust continues to fund extra-curricular activities in the state system throughout the country with support from volunteers from government schools delivery body Partnerships for Schools, encouraging pupils to find hidden talents and develop confidence.

On Tuesday over 12,000 people, the majority of which were secondary school children, some from schools as far afield as Newcastle, gathered at the 02 Arena to celebrate the 1^st birthday of the Transformation Trust.

The lively hosts from KISS radio whipped the crowd into a frenzy encouraging them to sing Happy Birthday along with Stacey Solomon, have shouting competitions with the Saturdays and scream with excitement when Tinchy Stryder reached the stage.

Other highlights included an award ceremony for a student filming and design competition.

Holly Watson is on a work experience at Building and attends Wakefield Girls High