What is the programme?
Following the scrapping of the Building for Schools programme last July and the James Review which was published earlier this year, the Government have introduced a new programme which will provide funding to a number of schools across England and Wales.
The Department of Education is commencing a privately financed programme to provide school facilities. The programme is intended to address those schools which are in the worst condition and which require additional places.
The programme has an overall capital allowance of £2billion which will be split across five groups (approx 20% for each group). The first group will commence procurement in April 2012 and will open in the academic year 2014-2015. The subsequent groups will follow on a yearly basis.
The programme is likely to include primary schools, secondary schools, special schools, sixth form colleges and alternative provisions (education outside of schools, such as pupil referral units, further education colleges and voluntary or private sector projects). It could cover between 100-300 schools in total over the whole 5 year period.
