Gove鈥檚 announcement secures precious funding for some schools, but there are still questions about how the procurement will work
Michael Gove鈥檚 highly anticipated announcement of the schools that are to receive funding under the government鈥檚 flagship school building programme, made last week, is likely to throw up some intriguing mathematical challenges for those involved.
The 拢2.4bn Priority Schools 黑洞社区 Programme (PSBP) covers 261 schools, which inevitably means budgets will be extremely tight - the money would equate to just under 拢10m per school if it were to be split evenly. Of course, projects are likely to vary enormously, but this gives some idea of the pressure firms will be under to cut the cost of delivery.
Money saved on delivering some schools projects
is directed to fund others: the move makes such
obvious sense and yet has been all too rarely made
One equation which the government has already got right, however, and for which it should be applauded, is its decision to use savings already made by contractors on other schools projects to fund a 拢400m capital pot for PSBP. This will allow the PSBP, the launch of which is already six months late, to get up and running before the government has finished its review into PFI, which was to be the funding route for the whole scheme. It鈥檚 the 鈥渕ore鈥� side of the government鈥檚 much trumpeted 鈥渕ore for less鈥� equation. Money saved on delivering some schools projects is directed to fund others: the move makes such obvious sense, and yet, in the past, that direct transfer has been all too rarely made. The challenge now for the industry and the Education Funding Agency (EFA), which is managing the programme, is to deliver it in a way that such savings can continue to be maximised.
From the EFA, this will require rapid clarity on detailed questions over procurement (see s and ). It will also need to think very carefully about how best to batch schools together - grouped procurement, to encourage a standardised response, will generate more savings the more similar the schools in question are.
The incentive for doing all this is clear. With 326 schools unsuccessful in their applications for funding, and still a huge pressure on pupil places nationwide at primary level, it鈥檚 obvious that the PSBP can only scratch the surface of the problem facing the schools estate in England. But if the programme is delivered in the most cost-efficient way possible, there is all the more chance of funds being available that could be used for future projects, offering more opportunity to those supply chains hungry for work.
The crown鈥檚 estate
With his highly publicised aversion to modern architectural 鈥渃arbuncles鈥� and to a certain scheme in Chelsea, you could be forgiven for thinking that Prince Charles was the only member of the Royal family to have an interest in the built environment. But in fact, Charles is far from the first to have taken architectural matters to heart. So as the country prepares for this weekend鈥檚 Diamond Jubilee, 黑洞社区鈥檚 Ike Ijeh thought it would be appropriate to take a tour back through the ages and look at the legacy left by the Royals on the British urban landscape. for a canter through the last 900-odd years, via a few cathedrals, King鈥檚 College and London Zoo. Very good, ma鈥檃m.
No comments yet