4Ps and The NGA have prduced a guide for governors on BSF - The full guide is available below in pdf format.
BACKGROUND
Foreword
The Government's ambitious programme to transform secondary schools -
Building Schools for the Future (BSF) - is unprecedented in scale and opportunity.
For it to succeed, the local school governors and headteachers must be fully
engaged in the planning and development of proposals for their schools.
4ps
Because of its experience since 1996 in supporting the delivery by local authorities
of major schools projects, 4ps1 has been tasked with providing information and
support to the schools involved with the BSF programme. This Guide has been prepared to act as a stimulus for you as governors and headteachers to find out more about getting involved, and to answer many of the questions we know you are asking about BSF and the process that will lead to the transformation of your school. The National Governors Council first suggested that 4ps might produce such a Guide, and when consulted on the draft said: ?BSF is a baffling subject for anyone new to it. We think this Guide deals with the explanations and the issues governors need to be aware of, in clear terms, and with enough detail to lead to an understanding of the processes and of the need to engage.? We hope you will indeed find it useful. Cllr Edward Lord 4ps Board Chair
1 4ps is local government?s project delivery specialist. 4ps works in partnership with all local authorities to secure funding
and accelerate the development, procurement and implementation of PFI schemes, public private partnerships, complex projects and programmes. 4ps? multidisciplinary team provides hands-on project support, gateway reviews, skills development and best-practice know-how. This guide has been produced by the Public Private Partnerships Programme (4ps) to provide a brief introduction to the government?s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Contributions to the guidance have been provided by a number of organisations including DfES, Partnerships for Schools, and the National Governors Council, to whom our thanks are due. 4ps is one of the local government central bodies, providing specialist support on major procurement initiatives and partnerships. 4ps? BSF programme is funded by the DfES, and is referred to as ?4ps Expert Client Programme? as our aim is to equip the client organisation ? local authority members and officers, and the schools ? with the necessary skills to respond effectively to the opportunities presented by BSF. Please note that a glossary at the back of the guide further explains some of the terms and abbreviations used. What is Building Schools for the Future? Building Schools for the Future (BSF) was launched by the DfES in February 2003, with the then Schools Minister David Miliband stating that: ?School buildings should inspire learning. They should nurture every pupil and member of staff. They should be a source of pride and a practical resource for the community.? It is a long-term programme of investment and change aimed at transforming educational standards by providing 21st century learning environments.