BSF Update
Hot on the heels of the Education Select Committee’s report published last October,
PriceWaterhouseCoopers has published the first of an annual series of reports on
the progress of BSF. The main aims of the report were to evaluate the impact of
BSF investment on educational achievement and to learn early lessons to inform the
programme's development. There is an acknowledgement that the process has been slower
than expected.
Key findings include:
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A clear link was established between the condition of school buildings, the quality
of school design and levels of pupil attainment. |
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Two-thirds of headteachers agreed that BSF should be educationally transformational.
Nearly 90% of them said that BSF would lead to improvements in personalised learning
and improve the quality of teaching and learning, and 60% of them thought it would
improve pupil behaviour. |
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Positive factors in delivery of the BSF programme included dedicated resourcing
with a small number of individuals taking responsibility at school level, and the
appointment of an effective Local Education Partnership Manager. |
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Negative factors included the perceived level of complexity involved, resourcing
constraints, lack of time, support and finance and a general lack of transparency. |
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The report suggests that Partnerships for Schools (“PfS”) should ensure more meaningful
involvement of staff, pupils and other stakeholders through more effective methods
of consultation. PfS was also advised to make more effective use of appropriate
guidance and information. |
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Looking forward there is scope for improved communication, particularly between
local government and schools, and simplifying project management. Everyone involved
with BSF should learn from best practice and share information. |
For more info please see the BSF Final Report:
BSF Final Report
15 Projects Reach Financial Close
Partnerships for Schools reported that by the end of 2007 15 contracts had been
signed under the Building Schools for the Future (“BSF”) programme. Four projects
reached financial close in December alone – Lewisham, Knowsley, Leicester and South
Tyneside and Gateshead.
South Tyneside and Gateshead is the first joint authority to close a project, and
Lancashire is the first authority to close the second phase of its BSF programme.
Student Views on BSF Design
In a speech to the Schools Minister and 34 local authorities on 15 January 2008,
PfS Chief Executive Tim Byles revealed that PfS would be revising its Strategy for
Change policy to recommend that pupils are more involved in the design process for
their schools. Byles intends to use the Sorrell Foundation’s Joinedupdesign for
BSF workshops.
For more info:
Sorrell Foundation
Significant Savings from Streamlining
Procurement Process
The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme could make £250m worth
of savings if it reforms its procurement process, according to a further report
from PWC released in February. The PWC report, commissioned by the government, says
that by streamlining the design process and shortening the procurement time for
BSF, the government could cut up to £250 million of costs from the programme. Under
proposals for a revised procurement process, bidding consortia could expect to save
up to 30% on their bid costs. Key proposals include:
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Reducing competitions to two bidders after 29 weeks rather than 44 weeks as at present |
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Detailed design to be produced later in the process |
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Reducing the number of sample schemes produced by architects
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More focus on partnering and track record in appointing a winning team. |
Proposals are expected to go before ministers for approval before the end of February.
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For More Information Contact:
The Projects Partnership Limited
53 Great Suffolk Street
London SE1 0DB
t 020 7620 0888
f 020 7620 0778
e info@tpplaw.co.uk
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