Partnerships for Schools



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Partnerships for Schools
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Press Releases

Press Releases

Press release: PfS to procure national framework for Academies

31 March 2006

Following last week’s announcement that Partnerships for Schools (PfS) is to take on responsibility for delivering the Academies programme, we have this week published a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). PfS is procuring a national framework for the design, build and construction of academies and other BSF educational facilities on behalf of the local authorities that are not yet engaged with the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Local authorities that are currently on the BSF programme will procure academies through the Local Education Partnerships (LEPs) in the same way as other educational facilities. The procurement and project management expertise which PfS already provides to the BSF programme will ensure that similar economies of scale are achieved in the Academies programme, and that it is delivered in the most cost-effective and efficient way.

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) retains ownership of sponsor relations and educational transformation for the Academies programme.

For more information on the procurement of BSF and non-BSF academies (and other educational facilities), please contact Colin Howell, newly appointed Academies Director at Partnerships for Schools on colin.howell@partnershipsforschools.org.uk.

ENDS 

Notes to Editors:

  1. Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is the largest single schools capital investment programme for over 50 years. The aim is to rebuild or renew every one of England's 3,500 state secondary schools during the 15-year lifetime of the £40 billion programme.
  2. Partnerships for Schools (PfS) is the delivery agency for Building Schools for the Future. It was established in April 2004 as a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), and is operated and funded under a joint venture between DfES and Partnerships UK.
  3. On 23 March 2006, Jacqui Smith, Minister of State for Schools and 14-19 Learners, announced that PfS is to take on responsibility for delivery of the building part of the Academies programme. More information can be found on the PfS website, www.partnershipsforschools.org.uk
  4. The deadline for receipt of tenders for the BSF National Construction Contractors' Framework for Academies and Educational Facilities is 5 May 2006.