This follows the successful management of strategic and school improvement services for Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council by Serco and the decision of the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to direct the Council to transfer its remaining education functions to Serco.

Serco's existing contract was signed in June 2001 to provide leadership and strategic management to the Local Education Authority (LEA) and education and training services to the 129 schools in Walsall, West Midlands. The contract expansion means that Serco is now also responsible for:

• Special educational needs
  
• Social and educational inclusion
  
• Lifelong learning including Early Years education
  
• Education finance
  
• School organisation, planning and admissions
  
• Student support for higher education and maintenance awards
  
• Provision of pupil referral units for 11 – 16 year olds
  
• Management of the Education Development Centre

The expanded contract represents a threefold increase in value with the total remaining value of the contract now approximately £100 million.

Christopher Hyman, Serco’s Chief Executive said:

"Serco is now one of the leading providers of services to the education sector. The expansion of the contract offers an exciting new start for education in Walsall and is built on the firm foundation that Serco has already laid through its strong working partnership with Walsall schools during the past 12 months.”

Terry Redmayne, Director of Education for Walsall added:

“The expanded contract will constitute a significant step forwards on the road to delivering excellence in education in the borough, which in turn will impact positively our strategy for regeneration and for boosting the economic well being and general quality of life in all our diverse communities.”

The expanded contract will result in the transfer of a further 300 Walsall Council staff to Serco on the 1st January.

The service will be renamed Education Walsall to mark the new start for the whole education service in Walsall.