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
Young People
Capital
Finance,
Performance and
Maintained Schools
Academies
Funding
Young People
Funding
Planning and
Funding
External
Assurance
Programme
Management
Learner Support
Programme
Advice and
Support
Data Analysis
and Systems
Service Delivery
in 4 Territories
Programme
Management
Programme
Delivery
Finance
Service Delivery
in 4 Territories
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.
 Securing sites and buildings to
that tight timescale in a specific
local area is challenging
 It can then take between 3-6
months to procure works and
obtain planning consents
AVAILABILITY
 There can be sometimes a
lack of sites or buildings in
an local area.
 Planning constraints can also
cause delay and make some
sites unviable.
PRICE
 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?