Buildings and land

• the number of pupil places available compared to current and future numbers on roll;
• the areas of buildings and grounds in support of the places available and the current number on roll.

When compared with the number on roll it can show the number of places that are surplus or the extra places required in a school. When divided by the number of year groups it can be used to show the admission number that can generally be accommodated.

For primary schools, the number and size of spaces designated as classbases calculates the net capacity.

The Asset Management Plan forms a central part of the Corporate AMP.  Schools form over 80% of the Local Authority's building and land asset-base; the assets must be maintained to a high standard and developed / improved in line with service needs. The team manages AMP information for each school at an elemental level, in line with DfE guidelines. This allows detailed reporting on the condition and suitability of each school building.

The Purpose of AMP is to:

Proposals

The following proposals made reflect the shift from the Department for Education policy for increasing, year on year, the level of capital devolved to schools and to ensure that the capital strategy supports the aims and objectives of the Authority:

In line with increased allocations of capital funding direct to schools, through Devolved Formula Capital (DFC), the Local Authority (LA) has seen a sustained reduction in the capital grant it receives from the Department for Education.  As this trend continues, it is increasingly important that schools engage with the principles of Asset Management Planning and the LA’s Capital Strategy. 

The AMP informs all aspects of planned capital investment.  In particular, issues included in the Authority's Planned Replacement Programme (PRP) use condition information in the AMP Database to prioritise. The authority consulted on changes to this PRP prioritisation method early in 2006, with the changes adopted from 2007/8.  The consultation paper can be found at Schools Capital Consultation.

The process is also explained in more detail in Staffordshire's revised AMP Statement of Priorities.

Priority Definitions

• Priority 1 -  Urgent work that will prevent immediate closure of premises and/or address an immediate high risk to the health and safety of occupants and/or remedy a serious breach of legislation.
  
• Priority 2 -  Essential work required within two years that will prevent serious deterioration of the fabric or services and/or address a medium risk to the health and safety of occupants and/or remedy a less serious breach of legislation.
  

• Roofs
• Windows
• Walls
• Floors
• Ceilings
• Stairs
• Sanitary services
• Mechanical services (including heating systems)
• Electrical services

How often

Specialist Surveyors from the Maintenance Consultancy undertake surveys within a 4-yearly cycle.

Grading

Each element is graded according to two criteria: its estimated life remaining and condition. 

Schools should use these documents to report AMP data changes to the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), identify their highest priorities and preparing a 3 year AMP.