Academies Director: Colin Howell

Colin joined PfS in November 2004 and is responsible for the Academies programme.

Colin has held senior positions in both the Public and Private Sector. Prior to joining PfS, Colin worked for Partnerships for Health within LIFT, the major national Department of Health initiative.

Colin's career experience has been developed in both the private and public sector and spans all sectors. He has been involved in the PFI/PPP market since its inception and was the Project Director on a number of early pathfinder schemes which included firing range facilities and serviced office accommodation.

In addition, Colin has worked throughout the UK, Europe and Singapore on a number of construction projects in his capacity as a Chartered Surveyor.

Academies Team

In March 2006, the DCSF asked PfS to take on responsibility for the delivery of Academies to ensure a closer alignment between the Academies and BSF programmes.

The DCSF retains responsibility for education matters and sponsor relations and sponsors remain responsible for an Academy’s ethos, specialism, management and governance. The Academies team within PfS is responsible for the procurement and delivery of each Academy, which happens in one of two ways:

Local Education Partnership (LEP):  Academies in BSF local authority areas that have set up a Local Education Partnership (or equivalent approved procurement vehicle) in time to meet the Academy delivery target dates will be delivered by the LEP. The Academies will be integrated with announcements of BSF waves and will be included in future business cases in the same way as any other secondary school.

National Framework: Academies in local authority areas that have yet to join BSF, or where the LEP will not be established in time to meet the Academy delivery targets, will be delivered using the National Framework. The Framework, which was launched in January 2007, can be used to design and build Academies.