The Role of the Education Funding Agency Katherine Howell, New Schools Network Mike Green, Education...
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Transcript of The Role of the Education Funding Agency Katherine Howell, New Schools Network Mike Green, Education...
The Role of the Education Funding Agency
Katherine Howell, New Schools NetworkMike Green, Education Funding Agency
Education Funding Agency
Mike Green
Director of Capital
15 September 2012
High level structure of the EFA
Young People CapitalFinance,
Performance and Maintained Schools
Academies
Young People Funding
Learner SupportData Analysis and Systems
Programme Management
Service Deliveryin 4 Territories
Finance
External Assurance
Service Delivery in 4 Territories
Academies Funding
Programme Management
Programme Delivery
Programme Advice and
Support
Planning and Funding
Chief ExecutivePeter Lauener
Maintained Schools Funding
The EFA’s remitPrincipal responsibilities:
Delivery of capital programmes
Capital funding for schools, academies, Free Schools and sixth form colleges
Revenue funding for academies
Revenue funding for 16-19s
Dedicated Schools Grant for pupils to age 16
Funding for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities aged 16-24
Budget: £50 billion
Staff: c.770
SUFFICIENT HIGH QUALITY
Basic Need PSBPFree SchoolsBSFAcademies
MaintenanceDevolvedDesign
Free Schools Capital Policy
Capital grants provided to approved applications to acquire and develop sites and buildings for Free Schools.
Sites and associated costs determined on a case by case basis depending on location, size, type and building works required and approved by Ministers.
Ministers’ priority: achieving good value for money at the lowest possible capital outlay.
Keen on innovation in using sites for schools and making use of surplus Government buildings.
Requirement for proposers to work closely with the Education Funding Agency (EFA) and be flexible.
The Challenge
AVAILABILITY There can be sometimes a
lack of sites or buildings in an local area.
Planning constraints can also cause delay and make some sites unviable.
TIME All schools have a fixed date to
open in September. Securing sites and buildings to
that tight timescale in a specific local area is challenging
It can then take between 3-6 months to procure works and obtain planning consents
PRICE Vendors can sometimes have
unrealistic expectations of price.
Planning approval can add cost and delay.
The site for a Free School is very important but can be the most time consuming and complex aspect of any project.
Roles and Responsibilities
DfE Lead Contact (LC)• To work closely with EFA and Proposers to secure site, ensure the school opens and any related capital funding is approved by Ministers
Education Funding Agency (EFA) Project Director (PD)• To work closely with DfE LC and Proposers to lead and manage all site and capital elements of the project
EFA specialist contractors EFA Project Managers: contracted Technical Advisors (TAs) responsible for the day to day project management support for the entire school development process. Reports directly to the EFA PD
EFA ICT Adviser: Advises and supports on all ICT aspects, including the development of the ICT requirements and its procurement
Property Agents: DTZ and Jones Lang LaSalle undertake site searches and negotiations on behalf of EFA
Legal Support: Dickinson Dees (DD) and Veale Wasbrough Vizards (VWV) support EFA and Proposers with the legal aspects of the property
Free Schools Site Solutions
EFA has a Central Property Team which includes both internal and external property and legal professionals
Value for money is paramount to comply with HM Treasury Red Book requirements
Ideal property solution is 125 year peppercorn lease
The Process: Identifying a Site
Kick off meeting with Free School Proposer to confirm requirements
Review of existing property proposals
Conduct site searches
The Public Estate – Government Buildings, Land Disposal or Local authority?
Options appraisal and suitability
The Process: Negotiation and Acquisition
EFA Property Advisers conduct negotiations with the landowner
Suitability of the preferred property – Due diligence and VFM
FSP kept abreast of progress by EFA Project Director/Project Manager
Confidential negotiations Heads of Terms – Agreed subject to contract Instructing solicitors from the EFA Legal Framework Red Book Valuations Exchange and Completion
Likely Issues
Planning for Education Use – loss of employment space?
Other issues – building works, listed building, objections
Political opposition – not Party specific
Gazumper or gazumpee?
What you can do
Local knowledge is key. Look at your catchment area to get as much information as you can on potential sites ready for your EFA site kick off meeting.
Develop links with your local authority in order to assist with the admissions process and for potential site opportunities
Drive the ICT solution from the curriculum not from the technology
Ensure ICT interaction with the building is clearly understood
Cont.
Engage early with EFA and partners to get the vision developed and affordable
Plan the people you need to run the procurement and evaluate the bids to get a fit for purpose value for money solution
But remember: The EFA enters into negotiations on any sites on the proposer’s
behalf
Q & A?