Firms announced for new Education and Children’s Services Framework
26 February 2009
Partnerships for Schools (PfS) has confirmed the advisers for a new framework which will provide advice and support for local authority education and children’s services teams as they prepare to deliver their Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
Consultants on the Education & Children’s Services Advice and Support Framework will be able to provide expertise and guidance to local authorities and other organizations engaged in BSF and related capital programmes to help them maximise the transformational opportunities offered by BSF.
The 11 companies have been appointed to the framework are, (in alphabetical order):
• Appleyards
• CfBT
• Cambridge Education
• Capita
• Cocentra
• EdisonLearning
• Mouchel
• Place Group
• Serco
• Tribal
• VT Education and Skills
In particular the framework advisers can offer support in the following areas:
• Developing Expressions of Interest documents;
• Developing pre-engagement programme, including Readiness to Deliver submissions;
• Developing local authority-wide and school specific Strategy for Change (SfC) documents;
• Developing educational aspects of other business cases (eg OBC);
• Continuing to develop educational transformation beyond financial close;
• Support for change management;
• Support for effective consultation strategies.
Tim Byles, Chief Executive of PfS said: “It is four years since PfS launched the adviser frameworks, and over this time we have seen the importance of being able to recommend well-informed and relevant professional support which is committed to the objectives of the BSF programme, whilst also guaranteeing competitive rates and value for taxpayers’ money.
“BSF is about much more than simply bricks and mortar, it is an opportunity for schools and local authorities to transform where and how students learn and teachers teach, and to integrate new learning technologies with state-of-the-art buildings and facilities. The advisers on the Education and Children’s Services Advice and Support Framework will be able to bring experience and ideas to complement the skills and knowledge within local authority BSF teams to help them plan for, and deliver, truly inspirational schools of the future.”
The Education & Children’s Services Advice and Support Framework is one of four frameworks which support delivery of the BSF programme, the largest single schools capital investment programme for over 50 years. BSF will provide world-class teaching and learning environments for all pupils, teachers and communities in England. The PfS frameworks will help local authorities choose the right private sector partner to work with them in delivering educational transformation through new and rebuilt schools.
Notes to Editors:
1. The new framework has been extended to incorporate children’s services, acknowledging the broader role of local authorities. The new framework is therefore known as: Education & Children’s Services Support and Advice.
2. The Education & Children’s Services Advice and Support Framework runs for two years, with a possible extension of up to two years.
3. There are currently four BSF Frameworks in operation: Education and Children’s Services, Financial (which also includes the additional Lead Adviser role), Legal, and Technical. For more information see: http://www.partnershipsforschools.org.uk/programme/BSF_Frameworks.jsp
4. 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 England’s state secondary schools estate during the lifetime of the programme.
5. 50 BSF schools have now opened, with around 1,200 secondary schools engaged in the programme, between design and delivery. More information about schools already open can be found at: http://www.partnershipsforschools.org.uk/programme/school_search.jsp
6. Partnerships for Schools (PfS) is the delivery organisation for Building Schools for the Future. PfS was established in April 2004 as a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), and is operated and funded under a joint venture between DCSF (formerly DfES) and Partnerships UK. PfS is a 100-strong organisation, with specialist expertise including educationalists, designers, ICT specialists, commercial managers and project management.
