BSF review will focus on costs and delivery speed

A fundamental review of the government's £45bn Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme is to be launched this autumn, in a bid to cut procurement costs and speed up delivery, CJ can reveal.

Tim Byles, head of Partnerships for Schools (PfS), unveiled plans for the review during an interview with CJ at the launch of Bristol's Brunel Academy last week.

He said the review will focus on streamlining the design process, separating ICT procurement and creating multi-area local education partnerships to encourage greater regeneration.

Byles said: "This is a vibrant market with a variety of views on procurement and we want to test these."

Byles also revealed plans to accelerate the delivery of later BSF waves by allowing local authorities to bring forward the construction of up to five BSF schools ahead of schedule, using local and regional contractors.

He said: "So long as local authorities can demonstrate they have done their strategic thinking, then they could bring forward some of their schools using local contractors. This would tackle issues of market capacity, accelerate schemes and allow smaller players to become engaged in BSF."

Plans to extend the National BSF Academies framework are also on the cards.

Byles said it is performing well and will soon reach its £2bn threshold. "We are considering whether to extend it next year or create a further framework," he added.

BSF bidders said design is a major issue. One said: "Local authorities need to be made to tow the line on design. It is a hugely expensive process. PfS recommends two sample designs, but Kent, for example, is asking for 10."

Bidders said separating the ICT procurement is a good thing. One said: "Putting construction and ICT together makes as much sense as buying a car and a washing machine as a package. There needs to be more flexibility."

However, some questioned whether BSF is losing its way. One MD said: "What do they want? Do they want a strategic partner to help deliver a regional regeneration programme or a contractor-led consortium to deliver a BSF scheme or local and regional contractors delivering it piece-meal? And if it's the latter, what happens to the wider BSF agenda of educational transformation?"