Consultant to examine effectiveness of 拢45bn BSF initiative after complaints of delays and waste

The Department for Education and Skills has drafted in Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC) to review its 拢45bn 黑洞社区 Schools for the Future programme.

A spokesperson for the DfES confirmed that it had commissioned the consultant to undertake a six-month review to 鈥渓earn the lessons from BSF so far and to use them going forward鈥�.

She added: 鈥淲e are looking back to see where we have issues and if there is anything we can do better.鈥�

The BSF programme is now in its third year, and although the industry has supported it, it has also been frustrated by delays and the cost involved in the procurement process. Normally three consortiums are shortlisted for each package of schools. This means that the two losing bidders produce unused designs for every school in the tender.

The structure that has been put in place to oversee projects has also been criticisd. These joint ventures, known as Local Education Partnerships, are co-owned by the council, the private sector partner and Partnerships for Schools, the government agency set up to oversee BSF.

Contractors say that some local authorities have been reluctant to co-operate with the other members, and that there has been a lack of consistent leadership from Partnerships for Schools.

In May it lost its third chief executive when Richard Bowker quit after just eight months in the job. He was replaced by Tim Byles, the chief executive of Norfolk council, in August.

Only one BSF project, a 拢173m scheme in Bristol, has so far reached financial close, despite the government鈥檚 intention to let projects worth 拢3bn every year.

News of PWC鈥檚 appointment was welcomed by the industry, where there is a growing sense that BSF is in need of a thoroughgoing overhaul.

John Cherrington, director at Atkins, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 got to be simplified and less costly to bid. It鈥檚 also disheartening for architects to design so many schools when only one winner gets the chance to build.鈥�

Paul Foster, the partner in charge of education at EC Harris, said: 鈥淚 welcome the arrival of a new chief executive at Partnerships for Schools. Tim Byles has got a big challenge. The industry is looking for stability in leadership at PfS鈥�

鈥淎nything that DfES can do to streamline this would benefit everyone, including PfS.鈥�