Partnerships for Schools
The following FAQs give further infomation about the role of PfS in BSF:
- What is the role of PfS?
- What are the roles of PfS, PUK and DCSF in delivering the BSF Programme?
- Does PfS do all BSF procurement centrally?
- What is Partnerships UK?
- Does PfS make a profit?
- How is PfS accountable?
- I have extensive experience in this area – what career opportunities are there at PfS?
Q. What is the role of PfS?
See the About PfS page, and for more detailed information on the roles within PfS, see the Roles, Responsibilities and Support page with the BSF process pages.
Q. What are the roles of PfS, PUK and DCSF in delivering the BSF Programme?
PfS is the national delivery vehicle for the Building Schools for the Future programme responsible for:
- National programme management and efficiencies
- Supporting transformation in education delivery
- Providing support and guidance to local authorities
- Knowledge management and sharing lessons learned
The role of DCSF is to provide strategic leadership of the programme, not details of delivery. PfS was established to support local authorities and schools in the delivery of BSF, and drive the transformational change that is their aim. PfS brings practical expertise on PFI and conventional procurement, alongside educational knowledge, which can inform local authorities’ development of their BSF projects and the procurement of their Local Educational Partnerships. PfS is also incentivised on working with the private sector and securing efficiencies from the procurement process.
PfS is a company limited by shares wholly owned by the DCSF, and is a major part of the Government's drive to raise the quality of procurement practice. The DCSF and Partnerships UK (PUK), who work with the Government on the delivery of PPP projects and programmes, and the implementation of PPP policy, set up and manage PfS via a non-corporate joint venture; PUK is therefore a co-venturer in PfS and shares the running costs of PfS with DCSF.
Q. Does PfS do all BSF procurement centrally?
No - the role of PfS is to work with local authorities, to support, advise and challenge them throughout the process of developing their plans for BSF and procuring a partner to deliver their requirements. Local authorities are the procuring body in BSF.
PfS has procured adviser frameworks for consultancy services, which all local authorities can draw down from, and also a Design & Build framework for Academies and single-school BSF procurements. For more information, see the page on the Frameworks.
Q. What is Partnerships UK?
Partnerships UK (PUK) is a public private partnerships organisation (PPP), partly owned by HM Treasury and the Scottish Parliament, and partly by the private sector, reflecting the balance between public sector mission and independent, commercial management.
Partnerships between the public and private sectors are a cornerstone of the Government's modernisation programme. By drawing on the best of both public and private sectors, PPPs can help the public sector to deliver modern, high-quality public services. But PPPs bring with them new challenges that require specialist skills and expertise.
PUK was set up by the Government to help the public sector meet these challenges. Its mission is to work with the public sector to make PPPs better, stronger and faster.
Q. Does PfS make a profit?
PfS is not a profit-maximising body. It is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) wholly owned by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. It may, however, be expected to make a return on any capital it deploys at risk in delivering the initiative.
Q. How is PfS accountable?
The Secretary of State is accountable to Parliament for the activities and performance of PfS. PfS has an Oversight Board, which has corporate responsibility for ensuring that PfS fulfils the aims and objectives set by the Secretary of State. The Chairman of the Oversight Board is responsible to the Secretary of State.
The Chief Executive of PfS is designated as PfS' Accounting Officer by the Departmental Accounting Officer of the DCSF, who is accountable to Parliament. The Accounting Officer of PfS is responsible for safeguarding the public funds invested in PfS and for the day-to-day operations and management of PfS.
Q. I have extensive experience in this area – what career opportunities are there at PfS?
PfS publicises opportunities in the general market and on its website in the ‘About us’ section under Recruitment.
