THE private company who will be financing, building and managing three new primary schools, as part of an £84 million project to provide 1,120 new school places in the borough, was named by Richmond upon Thames council on Monday.

The international facilities management group Jarvis Plc was chosen out of three rival bidders as the councils preferred choice with whom to negotiate its controversial Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

The multi-national company is already involved in several projects in the education sector and was responsible for the first schools built and run under the government's PFI scheme.

The chief executive of Jarvis Accommodation Services, Andrew Sutton, said: "We are extremely pleased by this appointment which further underlines Jarvis' growing reputation as the partner of choice for local authorities to provide the highest possible quality of educational facilities for pupils and teachers."

The company will pay for and build three new schools in central Richmond (Marshgate), Kew (Kew Riverside) and Orleans Park tennis courts and adjacent land in Twickenham.

This part of the project has already caused an outcry among parents and pupils at Orleans Park School who are furious at the loss of their sports facilities.

The new schools will not be ready for occupation until September 2003. Pupils starting in September this year will be taught in temporary accommodation.

Under the PFI agreement Jarvis will also finance the expansion of St Mary's Primary School and Trafalgar infant and junior schools in Twickenham.

The project also includes the provision of three new special educational needs units attached to the schools for pupils with hearing impairments, emotional and behavioural difficulties and learning difficulties.

Council leader Serge Lourie said: "We look forward to working with Jarvis Plc who we believe can help us to expand our excellent primary education service, which is recognised as the best in the country."

Cabinet member for education, Cllr Stephen Knight said: "The excellent quality of our schools means there is great demand for more places, from parents, many of whom come to live in the borough because of the exceptional standard of education we offer.

This project will enable us to deliver high-quality education to even more pupils."