PFI improves schools' performance

Performance results in all PFI primary and secondary schools increased significantly when compared to both the local education authority (LEA) average and the national average, according to a survey by the PPP Forum.
The survey, revealed at the PPP Forum's conference in Birmingham last week, looked at 73 primary schools and 30 secondary schools and compared their test results against those of the LEA average and the national average to see if there was any short-term improvement in pupils' performance.
The survey revealed that primary schools opened in time for the school term 2001/02 have shown a significant improvement in performance over the first two years. Against their own LEA they have improved by an average of 7.9 % and by 5.5% over the national average.
Secondary school performance also improved, although with less marked results. The performance of the 18 schools opened in time for the 2002/03 school year showed an improvement of 2.9% against the national average and 1.8% against their local LEA average.
Improved performance appears to accelerate significantly after the first year. The report states: "It would appear that during the first year as the school opens and pupils, teachers and other staff adapt to the new building there is a period of settling in. However, in the second year of opening, performance improves significantly."