Property

One of the freedoms of being an academy is that the Governors, Principal and Head Teacher will have complete control over expenditure on the school estate. Whilst this freedom is to be welcomed, it also places greater emphasis on the Principal and Governors to properly plan the maintenance of the school estate and to fully consider the best methods of implementing any capital investment.

Academies will continue to receive their Devolved Formula Capital, which is allocated on the same basis as for maintained schools, and which is to be used for capital maintenance of buildings and ICT. If an academy has an emergency which requires capital funding, it should first see if it is able to make a claim under its insurance policies. If the need cannot be covered by the insurance policy, then the academy should contact their YPLA Academy Lead Officer to discuss the options for emergency funding.

School Services are able to provide focused strategic support to academies when considering any capital investment in the built environment. This support could include:

• Overall project management services

• Support with selection of appropriate consultants to carry out surveys, design work, contract administration etc

• Support and / or prepare capital bid submissions to DfE and/or PfS egapplications for the PfS Prioirty Schools Building Programme.

• Act as project sponsor and expert client during major capital programmes, supporting the Principal and Governors, and ensuring the academy gets best value for money from its investment

• Support with insurance claims, and the management of insurance reinstatement works, in the event of an insured incident

Costs for any of the above services will be agreed with the academy once Schools Services has a full understanding of the support required.

Why not call us to talk?  01274 377 361