Barnsley's Programme
Barnsley will be amongst the first 30 areas in the country to benefit from 'Building Schools for the Future' - the biggest single government investment in improving school buildings for over 50 years.
This Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) programme aims to raise educational attainment by rebuilding or renewing every secondary school in England over the next 10 to 15 years. Subject to future spending reviews, the government will allocate £2.2 billion capital expenditure each year to the programme in order to give students access to world class, 21st Century learning environments that will inspire teachers and learners for decades to come.
This once in a lifetime initiative will:
- reorganise secondary school and ICT provision to have the greatest possible effect on pupil achievement
- promote better school design
- make procurement more efficient
- link with other funding to achieve greater community use of schools
- Background
- The Project
- Procurement Strategy
- Learning Education Partnership (LEP)
- ICT Services Contract
- Facilities Management Services
- Financial Issues
- Readiness to Deliver
- Leading and Managing Change
- Key Milestones and Programme Timetable
Barnsley secondary schools achieved their best ever GCSE results in 2009. Five plus A*-C GCSE grades, including English and mathematics, rose from 33.1% in 2008 to 39.3% in 2009, a 6.2% gain across the local authority. This committed effort to raise attainment means Barnsley local authority is the ninth most improved local authority in the country. Five plus A*-C GCSE grades rose from 55.8% in 2008 to 60.5% in 2009, a 4.7% gain.
However, despite these improvements, attainment in Barnsley remains well below national averages, and the numbers of young people entering post sixteen learning stands at 63%. When combined with other facts, such as the number of children living in poverty, health outcomes, progression rates etc, the need for change becomes clear. These priorities are set out in the Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP), which puts the development of localised, integrated service delivery, based at our new Advanced Learning Centres, at the heart of our strategy.
Barnsley’s Remaking Learning Vision has been the subject of widespread consultation with the whole community. It describes a process of systemic and transitional change to transform learning in the whole of the Borough, by creating the conditions and context for change for all of our schools to deliver higher standards, better outcomes for children and young people, and better quality learning for all. Our consultation continues with pupils, parents, community, staff and governors, through the CYPP process, the overall BSF programme plan and the design process for each ALC.
The Strategic Business Case sets out in full the education vision that underlies the BSF programme, and together with the Outline Business Case, gives more details on all the areas covered below. back to top
Barnsley is replacing its entire secondary school estate by the new build of nine ALCs. In addition Barnsley proposes the new build of one new special school and the replacement of a substantial part of one existing special school with the remainder of the school being retained estate.
The schools involved in this programme are:
| New build replacement ALCs built on their existing sites | New build replacement ALCs to be built at new sites to accommodate reorganised schools | New build special school and new build extensions to existing special school |
| Penistone Grammar | Royston and Edward Sheerien | Springwell Community Special |
| Kirk Balk | Kingstone and Holgate | Greenacre Special |
| The Dearne | Wombwell and Foulstone | |
| Darton | Priory and Willowgarth | |
| St Michael's |
Each ALC will offer full service provision, be open up to 48 weeks a year, have a dispersed pupil referral unit (PRU) attached to it and offer provision for adult and community learning.
Seven of these ALCs will be procured through PFI funding and two through traditional design and build. The new special school will be PFI funded and the extension to the existing special school will be design and build.
The capital costs of the programme are in the region of £300 million and the revenue cost over the contract period will exceed
£1 billion.
There have been no changes to the corporate and education strategy since submission of the SBC. The estates strategy has changed to reflect phasing and the number of sample schemes to be negotiated on and this is reflected in the table below.
| SBC | OBC | |||||
| ALC | Phase | Type of Build | Procurement Route | Phase | Type of Build | Procurement Route |
| Edward Sheerien/ | 1 | New Build | PFI | 1 | New Build | Traditional |
| Penistone Grammar | 1 | New Build | PFI | 1 | New Build | PFI |
| The Dearne High | 1 | New Build | Traditional | 1 | New Build | Traditional |
| Kirk Balk | 2/1R | New Build | Traditional | 1 | New Build | PFI |
| Darton | 2/1R | New Build | PFI | 1 | New Build | PFI |
| Willowgarth/Priory | 2 | New Build | PFI | 2 | New Build | PFI |
| Springwell Community (SEN) | 3 | New Build | PFI | 2 | New Build | PFI |
| Greenacre (SEN) | 2 | New Build | Traditional | 2 | New Build | Traditional |
| Foulstone/Wombwell | 3 | New Build | PFI | 3 | New Build | PFI |
| St Michael's Catholic | 3 | New Build | PFI | 3 | New Build | PFI |
| The Kingstone/Holgate | 3 | New Build | PFI | 3 | New Build | PFI |
Barnsley is unique in its approach to its Building Schools for the Future Project as it is replacing its entire secondary school estate with new build ALCs and new SEN facilities and the Borough itself is making a large funding commitment to this project on an ongoing basis. Barnsley aims to ensure that every school is delivered to a high design specification to achieve its learning agenda and on that basis the Private Sector Partner must be able to fulfil the demands required.
The ALCs will be delivered in a single wave which will be split into three phases. The wave will include a mixture of PFI and conventionally funded design and build contracts. Every ALC will be treated the same in relation to such issues as both hard and soft facilities management. This is to ensure that the ALCs will have longevity, achieve respect and become a meaningful resource, not only for the secondary and special school function but also for the wider community. The contractual and procurement documentation which will be used will be PfS standard form documentation or as near to the form standard as will be agreed with Partnerships for Schools to ensure that the ultimate aim is achieved including the following:
- Template ITN/ITCD documentation
- Template output specification for PFI, D&B and ICT
- Strategic Partnering Agreement
- Shareholders' Agreement
- PFI Contract
- Design and Build Contract
- ICT Services Contract
- VA documentation
The borough is proposing to adopt a structure to enable delivery of the BSF programme in the most effective manner possible to ensure value for money.
To achieve Barnsley’s transformational aims it has created a Local Education Partnership (LEP) based on the Partnerships for Schools’ model. The facilities management of all ALCs (both Design and Build and PFI) and ICT provision to all ALCs will be undertaken through the LEP. Views on the LEP were taken at the soft market testing events and it was clear that the market considered the LEP model appropriate for Barnsley. back to top
Barnsley is committed to the Local Education Partnership (LEP) model, whereby the programme will be delivered through a joint venture company in which a private sector partner has the majority of shares and Barnsley and Partnerships for Schools are also shareholders. Barnsley believes this will help to embed long-term partnership working. The facilities management of all ALCs excluding catering (both Design and Build and PFI) and ICT provision to all ALCs will be undertaken through the LEP.
Our private sector partner was selected on the basis of robust criteria. Barnsley has at the heart of our BSF Project a commitment to the borough wide remaking learning agenda and a true belief in the Every Child Matters agenda. These issues and the ability of our private sector partner to work within the ethos of the partnership were the cornerstone of the selection process. The terms of exclusivity will be determined in consultation with Partnerships for Schools to ensure that the best outcomes are achieved for the Project. back to top
The ICT services contract will be based on the standard PfS ICT output specification. The aim of the managed service is to deliver and support the ICT provision to enable the learning objectives to be met. In practice this entails ensuring that the ICT equipment and associated software and data are fit for purpose, available for use during the school opening contract hours and that a comprehensive help desk capability exists to support the ALC.
A key point of focus during Barnsley’s assessment of the bids will be the degree to which the ICT element of a bidder’s proposal is influencing the building design. Therefore, the council will be looking for evidence of genuine partnership between the ICT provider and the other parts of each consortium. The consortium will be able to produce evidence of its ability and willingness to combine a talent for innovative building design with knowledge of how ICT can be used to transform learning outcomes. back to top
Facilities management services
Facilities management, with the exception of catering, will be included in the PFI contracts. In the case of two ALCs and one special school procured under the standard Design and Build agreements the council intends to seek agreement with the PFI facilities management provider for the provision of FM and lifecycle costs to the same standard as in the PFI schools. back to top
Financial issues
Value for money
The council has undertaken a value for money assessment in accordance with HM Treasury(August 2004) and PfS guidance which indicates that that procurement of seven of the ALCs and one special school by a PFI contract will deliver better VFM when compared with procurement by traditional public sector procurement mechanisms. This has been ratified by its financial advisors Deloitte. A similar assessment carried out on the remaining two ALCs and one special school also indicates that procurement through a PFI contract would be better value for money but as PFI credits are unavailable for the whole of the wave a PFI procurement route for these would be unaffordable.
Affordability
The programme will cost significantly more in both capital and revenue terms than provided by the government though the capital funding envelope or in PFI credit grant.
The capital cost of the programme is approximately £300 million and the revenue cost over the contract period will exceed £1 billion.
The council has resolved to contribute a minimum of £5m a year (inflated) towards funding the excess capital and revenue costs.
In addition as significant annual savings can be made by schools owing to the proposal to reduce the number of schools from 13 to nine ALCs, Schools Forum has agreed to contribute this annual sum (£3.1m each year inflated over the period of the contracts) towards meeting the costs of provision over and above the funding provided by the government and the Council
On the current basis the programme is within the council’s affordability ceiling.
Further information
Further information on financial issue is given in sections 5 and 6 of the OBC. back to top
Readiness to deliver
Barnsley is confident of its ability to procure and manage this programme and has the necessary experience and resources set up to procure the first and subsequent phases and support them through resulting PFI and traditional contracts.
Barnsley has successfully procured and managed a recent PFI primary school programme and this experienced team has been retained to be the core of a larger BSF core team. Lessons learnt from this experience will guide the BSF process. The programme team and support structure is appropriately resourced, dedicated and with an experienced and skilled mix of individuals.
The authority has unprecedented support of the programme and has commitment from Cabinet and stakeholders to fund the scheme well above the PfS funding allocation. Significant funding has been made available for the support programme delivery team throughout the procurement process and during the delivery of further phases and the contract support phase. back to top
Leading and managing change
Barnsley is committed to the transformational agenda fundamental to BSF and recognises that the project is not only about buildings, but also about changing how learning is facilitated and delivered. The structures in the project have and will continue to have engagement with stakeholders at the centre with a clear focus on the contribution each can make to the transformation. This engagement has had at its core work with the schools to guide and support them as they consider the issues about learning and begin to describe the activities that will truly transform and will guide the development of the new buildings. This has been exemplified in the schools design and brief development workshops.
We are keen to develop the LEP as a true partner who will engage with the wider aspirations of the council as the remaking learning agenda plays its part in the wider remaking Barnsley agenda. This partnership will establish and use the Local Education Partnership as the vehicle for design, construction, equipping, servicing and continuous improvement of learning environments.
Since the LEP came into being it has demonstrated its commitment to Barnsley's transformational agenda through its 'added value' plan, which includes a commitment to taking on 40 apprentices, a range of learning activities around construction and engineering for current school students, and support for teachers' development. back to top
Key milestones and programme timetable
| KEY MILESTONES | |
| Education vision approved | 15 December 2006 |
| Strategic Business Case approved | 15 December 2006 |
| Outline Business Case approval from Project Review Group received | 15 March 2007 |
| OJEU Notice issued | 16 March 2007 |
| Bidder longlist of five selected | 17 May 2007 |
| Issue Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) | 18 May 2007 |
| Bidder shortlist of three selected | 21 June 2007 |
| After design of sample schemes and evaluation of bids, number of bidders reduced to two | 23 January 2008 |
| Dialogue continues until | 19 September 2008 |
| PROGRAMME TIMETABLE TO COMPLETION | |
| Final bids received and evaluated by | November 2008 |
| Appoint preferred bidder | November 2008 |
| Complete final business case | March 2009 |
| Financial close | June 2009 |
| Start Phase 1 | June 2009 |
| Complete supplementary business case 1 | January 2009 |
| Start Phase 2 | March 2010 |
| Complete supplementary business case 2 | September 2009 |
| Start Phase 3 | November 2010 |
| Complete Phase 1 | April 2011 |
| Complete Phase 2 | September 2011 |
| Complete Phase 3 | September 2012 |
|
|
/remakinglearning.jpg)