Delivering the BSF programme

29.04.2009

In March 2009 the DCSF published an indicative prioritisation list indicating when remaining local authorities would enter the £55 billion Building Schools for the Future scheme.

Councils named on the provisional BSF list are trying to secure a place on the next wave of building as it seems that a proportion of the initial 70 listed authorities will be ejected from that list at the end of April.

Those on the list have engaged in a Readiness to Deliver programme, which includes proving they have prepared an initial set of projects worth between £80 and £100 million each.

We could see a total of £7 billion worth of projects ready to go into construction by the beginning of 2012, with subsequent waves of projects from each of the local authorities ready to go after that. Schools minister Jim Knight also announced that thousands of school modernisation projects would begin 12 months early, after more than £900 million of public spending was brought forward.

Partnership for Schools (PfS), the government’s delivery body for the BSF programme, has released a £4 billion framework for the design and build of academies.

Tim Byles, Chief Executive of PfS said: “The education programme is very important to rebuilding the economy. BSF is a large-scale programme that is predictable, goes across the country and is attracting investment.”

OTHER CAPITAL FUNDING

Additionally, 100 local authorities in England will share £499 million of capital funding brought forward from 2010-11 to the coming financial year.

A further £390 million has been accelerated to every school head in England to invest in smaller projects as they see fit – from building new classrooms to fitting out new gyms. Another £30 million is available for play areas.

Overall schools capital spending in 2009-10 will now be £7.9 billion.