BSF Glossary
A - C D - F G - I J - L M - O P - R S - U V - Z
Academies
Academies are a new type of state school that use added expertise and funding from a sponsor to help improve secondary education; they are not independent or selective schools. The key differences are that the Academy would be responsible for the land and buildings and employ the staff directly. The Academy's sponsor is responsible for the ethos and leadership in the school. On a day to day basis, the school is managed by the governing body and headteacher.
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)
A national body promoting good design of buildings and spaces. Advisory body to the BSF programme in design issues funded by DCSF to support LAs with design enablers, providing 10 - 12 days of free time allocated to each local authority project, previously to the schools PFI programme, and now to BSF authorities.
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Design and Build (D&B)
A form of contract in which a single contractor is responsible for both the design and construction of a building project. In BSF this will usually be the LEP.
Design, Build, Finance & Operate (DBFO)
A form of contract in which a consortium takes responsibility for the design, construction, financing and operation (including maintenance) of an asset for a period of years. PFI contracts are DBFO contracts.
Design Quality Indicator (DQI)
The DQI is a tool to assist with the briefing, development and evaluation stages of a project.
Exemplar Designs
The DCSF has produced a compendium of exemplar designs for new secondary schools. These schemes are the result of a design competition held during 2003, which resulted in five teams being chosen to produce model schemes for different types of site. A sixth design is for an "all-through" school combining secondary and primary. (There are also five primary school exemplars, although these are not expected to be widely used for the BSF programme).
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Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
The KPIs will measure the ongoing performance of a contract. They are extensively used in the Strategic Partnering Agreement.
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Local Education Partnership (LEP)
The joint venture company for local delivery of the BSF programme, formed by a local authority, BSFI and a Private Sector Partner (PSP) which is usually a consortium. The standard model anticipates the PSP owning 80% of the shares, BSFI 10% and the local authority 10%.
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Outline Business Case (OBC)
Business Case which sets out in detail the scope, costs, affordability, risks, procurement route and timetable of the project such that it can be approved by the local authority to the satisfaction of DCSF and the Project Review Group (if PFI included), and for advancing to the procurement stages of the project. The OBC is written using guidance provided by PfS.
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Partnerships for Schools (PfS)
The non-departmental public body (NDPB) set up to deliver BSF nationally, jointly managed by the DCSF and Partnerships UK. It is separate to BSFI, the investment vehicle. PfS has also been tasked with delivering the government's Academies programme.
Partnerships UK (PUK)
Partnerships UK was established by Government to accelerate the development, procurement and implementation of public private partnerships (PPPs). PUK works exclusively with and for the public sector. It is 49% owned by the Treasury.
Private Finance Initiative (PFI)
A procurement route established in 1995, and more widely adopted since
1997. It is an important route for much Government spending on assets, as it transfers significant risks to the private sector. PFI requires private sector consortia to raise private finance to fund the project, which must involve investment in assets, and the long-term delivery of services to the public sector. In BSF, PFI is the funding route favoured for new build projects.
Private Sector Partner (PSP)
The private sector organisation with which a local authority enters into a PPP or PFI contract. In BSF, the PSP will have the majority stake within the LEP, and may also be in direct contract with the local authority through PFI contracts. The Private Partner is usually a consortium made up of a range of private sector companies working collaboratively. These might include Construction Companies, ICT Providers, Legal Advisors and Education Consultants.
Procurement
The whole process of acquiring goods, works and services from third party providers.
Public Private Partnerships (PPP)
The relationship formed between the private sector and public bodies often with the aim of introducing private sector resources and/or expertise in order to help provide and deliver public-sector assets and services. The concept of PPP embraces many forms of partnership including PFI.
Public Private Partnerships Programme (4ps)
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. 4ps is providing support to local authorities for the BSF programme, through its Expert Client programme.
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Strategic Partnering Agreement (SPA)
The contractual agreement between the local authority and the Local
Education Partnership (LEP) which sets out the details of the partnership working between them and defines key terms such as exclusivity and the new project approval process.
Standardisation of PFI Contracts (SoPC)
Guidance documentation and approved drafting produced by PUK on behalf of HM Treasury, which sets out national standards for PFI contracts. The fourth edition (SoPC4) was produced in April 2007 and is binding on all PFI-funded projects.
Strategy for Change (SfC)
The first formal component of the BSF approvals process. It is designed to capture both the local authority's strategy for secondary education and the requirements that strategy places upon the physical school estate.
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Wave
A group of BSF projects in a number of authorities with funding starting in a particular financial year.
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Last Modified:
03/12/2008 17:11:19
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