Third former Partnership for Schools director joins Tim Byles new firm Cornerstone

Cornerstone, the firm set up by former schools capital boss Tim Byles, has appointed David Burns, former director of the Education Funding Agency (EFA) as its latest director.

Burns joins Cornerstone after nine years at Partnerships for Schools (PfS) and then subsequently at the EFA, which replaced PfS this year.

He is the third high profile PfS director to leave the government鈥檚 schools agency to join Cornerstone, following Sal Wilson, operations director, and Harry Scarff, property director.

During his time at the at PfS and the EFA Burns was responsible for the Priority Schools 黑洞社区 Programme, academy buildings, and wider support functions including design, ICT, technical and property.

Burns also led the team that supported Sebastian James for the James Review on education capital.

Cornerstone chief executive, Tim Byles said: 鈥淲e are delighted that David is joining the team at what is a very exciting time for Cornerstone as our first tranche of deals, covering a range of sectors, comes to fruition.

鈥淒avid brings with him an impressive track record of delivery in both the education and health sectors - experience which will prove invaluable in terms of the projected deal flow that we anticipate over the coming months.鈥

Burns said: 鈥淎fter over 12 years at the heart of developing and establishing major investment programmes for central government, it is a natural move for me to work for a social investment company like Cornerstone. I am especially pleased to be involved in the early stages of the company and being able help to bring a strong vision to reality.鈥