A-Z of BSF

A school where plans for a new school are developed jointly between parents and the local authority, for example, where parents have identified that local provision is insufficient to meet their needs, or they want a different style or ethos of school in their area. The Elmgreen School in Lambeth (see also) was the first Parent Promoted school in the country.

The basis of payment to the contractor which provides for deductions for non-availability of spaces and non-performance by the contractor. Within the BSF programme, this is commonly used to incentivise good service quality for ICT and the delivery of facilities management services.

In contrast to the traditional style of school learning, whereby teachers lead classes of students for whole sessions (sometimes called 'chalk and talk'), personalised or independent learning - terms increasingly used in education today - promote, through the use of ICT, each student working to their own pace, according to their own personal needs and strengths.

Private Finance Initiative Credit:

see PFI.

Private Finance Initiative:

A procurement route established in 1995, and more widely adopted since 1997. It is an important route for much Government spending on assets, as it transfers significant risks to the private sector. PFI requires private sector consortia to raise private finance to fund a project, which must involve investment in assets, and the long-term delivery of services to the public sector.

In BSF, PFI is the funding route favoured for new build projects. The standard funding and delivery model for schools that are being entirely, or largely (e.g. >70%) rebuilt through the BSF programme.

Partnerships for Schools: The NDPB responsible for delivering the BSF programme and, since April 2006, the Academies programme. PfS is a joint venture between the DCSF and PUK.

Project Initiation Document: Defines the BSF project in order to form the basis for the management and assessment of the success of the project. It provides a framework for the Project Board and the Project Manager to assess progress, change management and ongoing viability and to confirm to all stakeholders that the project has the necessary resource and capacity to deliver to the timescales established at its outset.

Preliminary Invitation to Negotiate

Pupil Level Annual School Census

Preparation, Planning and Assessment (time)

Public Private Partnership:

The term for the relationship formed between the private sector and public bodies often with the aim of introducing private sector resources and/or expertise in order to help provide and deliver public sector assets and services. The LEP is an example of a PPP.

Pupil place planning: The analysis aof existing and anticipated pupil numbers to ensure that sufficient, but not surplus, school places are available in the future. This activity is undertaken by the local authority, in co-operation with PfS and DCSF.

Parliamentary Question

Pre-Qualification Questionnaire: Bidders expressing an interest in the project advertised in the OJEU are issued with a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire to establish whether potential bidders have the technical capacity and ability, economic and financial standing to deliver the project.

The title given under the old negotiated procedure to the consortium that is selected to deliver a local authority's BSF programme, subject to successful negotiation of the final contractual forms and financial structure of the Local Education Partnership. See also Selected Bidder.

The DCSF's programme for investment in primary schools in England. This funding can be delivered by LEPs.

The private sector organisation with which a local authority enters into a PPP or PFI contract. In BSF, the PSP will have the majority stake within the LEP, and may also be in direct contract (as an SPV) with the local authority through PFI contracts. The PSP is usually a consortium made up of a range of private sector companies working collaboratively. These might include construction companies, architects, technical specialists, landscape designers, ICT providers, legal advisors and education consultants.

The systems and procedures for commissioning work. In BSF around 50% of the total investment will be PFI new builds, which means they will be built, maintained and facility managed by the LEP. The rest of the schools will be refurbished, and in some cases will also be maintained over a period of time by the LEP.

The acquisition of goods, works and services from both third party and in-house providers.

The legal agreement reached between the local authority and the private sector partner for PFI projects. For BSF projects, the PfS standard form of Project Agreement must be used.

The Project Board is established by the local authority to provide strategic direction and leadership to its BSF proposals. This will usually be given delegated authority to take certain decisions on behalf of the Council.

The usual title for the officer responsible for delivering a local authority's BSF programme on a day-to-day basis. Also the job title for the PfS staff who provide support and guidance to the local authority project team, and lead them through the standardised BSF process. A Project Director at PfS is assigned to each LA to throughout the planning and pre-procurement phases and will normally stay with the project for its duration. Where relevant, the LA will also be assigned a Project Director from the Academies team at PfS.

The individual, usually the local authority's Chief Executive or DCS, ultimately responsible for leading their BSF project. This person does not lead or manage the project on a day-to-day basis, but represents it corporately and externally as its public 'voice' and advocate.

Pupil Referral Unit

Partnerships UK: PUK was established by Government to accelerate the development, procurement and implementation of public private partnerships (PPPs). PUK works exclusively with and for the public sector. It is 44% owned by HM Treasury and 5% owned by Scottish Ministers.
www.partnershipsuk.org.uk