To all primary school
and Chairs of Governors
Dear Colleague
PRIMARY CAPITAL PROGRAMME
I am writing to let you know about the DCSF primary capital programme, which begins from the 2009/10 financial year. The funding is being allocated to local authorities on a formula basis based on pupil numbers and levels of deprivation.
Although the programme has been labelled publicly as “primary BSF”, it is important to note that the sums involved will be much smaller than those generally available for the secondary BSF schemes. Croydon will receive £4.9m of primary capital in 2009/10, and £7.3m in 2010/11. Further funding is expected over a total period of up to15 years, although no firm commitment has been made beyond 2010/11. As the cost of rebuilding a single primary school would be of the order of £10m, it is important to be realistic about the amount of impact that this funding will make on our primary school estate.
Despite the relatively modest sums of money available, the funding is intended to contribute to the transformation of primary education and support improved standards in schools - it is not intended for general maintenance and upgrades. Proposals for the use of the capital will be considered by the Council's Cabinet Committee on 9 June before submission to DCSF for approval.
In line with the principles that I understand were considered some time ago during work on the Primary Charter, officers' initial proposals are that the primary capital investment should be used to fund projects which support one or more of the following objectives:
- supports school improvement by bringing together higher and lower performing schools through reorganisation including by amalgamation
- allow the expansion of high-performing, popular schools where there is demand for additional places in the area
- supports inclusion by creating resource bases for pupils with special educational needs
- supports the development of extended services within primary schools
- allows a move away from mixed age classes
Officers are developing a long-list of potential projects which meet the criteria listed above, on which we will be consulting after the two week Easter holidays. The purpose of this letter is firstly to ask for your comments on the proposed priorities for investment, and to ask that, if you have a project you feel should be considered for inclusion, you notify Margaret Brightman (Margaret.brightman@croydon.gov.uk) by 4 April 2008.
Without wishing to be unduly pessimistic, I should emphasise again that resources in the first two years at least will be very limited, and that we expect the demand for investment to significantly exceed the money available. We will therefore be particularly keen to prioritise projects where a relatively modest investment is likely to make a significant contribution to one or more of the objectives above.
Yours sincerely
Alison Critchley
Assistant Director, Partnerships and Learning
cc Margaret Brightman
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PRIMARY CAPITAL PROGRAMME STRATEGY FOR CHANGE