The Role of the Education Funding Agency

Katherine Howell, New Schools Network Mike Green, Education Funding Agency

Education Funding Agency

Mike Green Director of Capital 15 September 2012

High level structure of the EFA

Chief Executive Peter Lauener Academies Academies Funding Programme Management Service Delivery in 4 Territories Young People Young People Funding Learner Support Programme Management Service Delivery in 4 Territories Capital Planning and Funding Programme Advice and Support Programme Delivery Finance, Performance and Maintained Schools External Assurance Data Analysis and Systems Finance Maintained Schools Funding

The EFA’s remit

Principal 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

Basic Need

HIGH QUALITY

PSBP Free Schools BSF Academies Maintenance Devolved Design

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

The site for a Free School is very important but can be the most time consuming and complex aspect of any project.

TIME



All schools have a fixed date to open in September.

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Securing sites and buildings to that tight timescale in a specific local area is challenging

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It can then take between 3-6 months to procure works and obtain planning consents

AVAILABILITY

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There can be sometimes a lack of sites or buildings in an local area.

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Planning constraints can also cause delay and make some sites unviable.

PRICE

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Vendors can sometimes have unrealistic expectations of price.



Planning approval can add cost and delay.

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?