Meeting documents

Purpose of the Report

1. The purpose of this report is to provide an update of progress to date in respect of County Durham’s BSF Programme 2006/07 and its contribution to the delivery of the County Council’s Corporate Aims in respect of Lifelong Learning.

Background

7. An extract from the County Council’s Vision for Children and young People, setting out the key objectives for the BSF Programme, is attached as Appendix 1.

8. In addition to supporting Corporate Aims in terms of protecting and supporting vulnerable children and improving educational attainment / achievement, BSF IN County Durham will also contribute to the Corporate Aims of improving health, promote economic well-being and improve the quality of the environment.

9. Health, worklessness and raising the economic well being of the County are also priorities of the County Council. Added to this are a number of Challenges presented in the Vision for County Durham which include:
"creating a computer-connected network of community hubs in towns and parishes, accessible for teaching and learning by the community and providing world class facilities for education..."

10. For the above reasons, and in addition to the Educational priorities, maximising opportunities for community use of schools and training and developing a local labour force able to participate in the BSF Programme are key to its success.

Standardisation with BSF

15. The structure shown above is the standard LEP model and it is not envisaged that it will be fundamentally altered. However should bidders wish to suggest minor departures from the standard then this will be considered during negotiation with bidders.

16. The LEP will:

· work with the Local Authority and other local stakeholders to refine and develop its strategic investment plans for secondary education for the area;
· act as the single point of contact for the procurement and delivery of all the services likely to be required to deliver the investment programme including design, construction, project management, FM, ICT services, etc;
· integrate and manage a diverse range of supply chain sub-contractors ranging from building contractors, FM services to ICT providers; and
· enable delivery of projects through a mix of procurement routes (i.e. PFI and conventionally funded).

ICT managed service:

17. Durham County Council is proposing a bespoke solution for the delivery of the ICT managed service which will consist of a partnership between the Council and the LEP.

18. This is intended to take the form of a Managed Service Partnership (MSP) as demonstrated below, comprising of in-house provision and an ICT Strategic Partner (procured via the LEP), which will provide a comprehensive service covering all aspects of the BSF managed service requirement. Service delivery will be drawn from existing and planned in-house services along with completely new services drawn in from the private sector.

Project Flow Through LEP

Wave 3

21. Durham County Council secured Wave 3 funding from the DCSF on 19 June 2007 to deliver an initial project consisting of 8 schools: Seaham School of Technology, Dene Community School, Shotton Hall School, St Bede’s Catholic Comprehensive School, Easington Community School, Sedgefield Community College, Wellfield Community School and Glendene Special School, (including the provision of an ICT managed service).

22. Durham County Council will initially receive funding for these 8 schools in Wave 3. However, following discussions with Partnerships for Schools (PfS), it was confirmed on 5 May 2006, that funding would be brought forward for Durham Johnston Comprehensive School from the originally proposed Wave 10-12 inclusion. In order to progress with this project to timescales previously agreed, this project is being delivered separately from the procurement of the LEP and will be open for use September 2009.

23. The Planning Committee granted planning consent for the redevelopment of Durham Johnston Comprehensive School on 17th August 2007. Work is expected to start on site on 24th September. Handover of the new school buildings is expected to be Easter 2009 with the school operating on a single site from September 2009. When the LEP is in place, it will fall under the same management arrangements as the rest of the secondary school estate.

Wave 6

24. Following a further written submission of “Readiness to Deliver”, Durham County Council has also received confirmation of its acceptance into Wave 6 of its second phase comprising 13 schools, including the Pupil Referral Unit, in the South West of the County.

Subsequent Waves

25. The remaining secondary schools are planned to receive investment in later Waves of the programme.

Management Arrangements

The Project Board

David Williams Chair & Project Owner	Corporate Director Children & Young People’s Services
Cllr Claire Vasey	County Councillor and Cabinet Member Children & Young People’s Services
Cllr Michele Hodgson	County Councillor and Cabinet Member Corporate Services Libraries and Culture
Cllr Clive Robson	Deputy Leader of Durham County Council
Gerard Moran	Representative of Durham Association of Secondary Headteachers (DASH)
Liz Neale	Project Director Partnerships for Schools
Steve Leigh	Project Director, 4ps
Tom Crompton/Linda Bailey	Learning & Skills Council

26. A Project Board has been set up to oversee this Project. The Project Board includes the following people:

27. In addition to the above, Durham County Council Officers attend and support the Board as appropriate.

BSF Strategic Project Team and Workstreams

28. Below the Project Board sits the Strategic Project Team (SPT) chaired by the Project Director. This group meets fortnightly and comprises leaders of the workstreams shown in the structure below, together with representation as appropriate from other parties involved in taking forward BSF. Progress is updated via risk and issue reports and verbal updates. Reports are presented at SPT prior to being taken to BSF Board and, where appropriate are forwarded by the Board to the Council’s Cabinet.

BSF Progress in County Durham

29. Since the appointment of a full time Project Director, Project Manager and collocating other dedicated posts within the BSF team, fully supported by David Williams, the focus of the BSF programme has deliberately been shifted from a construction led programme to an educational transformation programme. The staff in schools have welcomed this and are now very excited to work with the County Council and bidders to develop the new proposals which will not be "new, old schools" but learning centres of the future.

Competitive Dialogue

30. Following OBC approval for Wave 3 in June 2007, an advert was placed in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) submissions were received from five interested parties on the 6th August 2007. The bids have been evaluated and a long list has been approved by the BSF Board with all five consortiums continuing to the next stage.

31. Following this long list selection, the Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) was issued on 23rd August. This is the start of the dialogue phase which itself is split into two stages. The first stage is ITPD where the number of bidders in dialogue with the County Council will have to be reduced to three. The second is ITCD (Invitation to Continue Dialogue) where a preferred bidder will have to be selected from the remaining three.

32. The overall aim of the dialogue phase is to identify the most appropriate solution or solutions to the County Council’s needs.

Wave 3

33. The options appraisal and control option development processes for all of the Wave 3 schools have been undertaken in consultation with the Council’s Planning and Highways Officers. School Staff, Governors, Sport England and the DCSF Schools Assets Team have also been consulted.

34. The County Council, as planning authority, has confirmed that outline planning consents are not required for the Wave 3 proposals as they relate to the existing school sites and therefore have de facto approval. However, an alternative site has recently been identified for Seaham School and this is being explored as a potential new location for the secondary school. This is the subject of a separate report which will be considered by members during September 2007. It will mean that, should the alternative site be a viable option, Seaham school will be developed alongside the second phase of Wave 3 and not as a Sample scheme as originally intended. The school staff and stakeholders are fully aware of this.

Consultation

35. Workshops for phase 1 have commenced with the schools which will result in a workbook for each school setting out how the school could be developed according to its vision. These will be given to the short listed bidders at ITCD stage. The workbooks will provide the bidders with a starting point - it is not intended to be the complete solution for our schools.

36. This will be followed by extensive consultation during the dialogue stage in order to secure the best designs for the “learning centres” envisaged. Initial talks with the bidders would suggest that all are proposing that extended community use, support to training, skills developments and use of local labour will be part of their bids.

Wave 6

37. Work with schools in wave 6 has begun with shaping their visions. The next step will be to develop this into a “Strategy for Change” which will consider an holistic approach to educational provision in the South West of County Durham. This will go forward for DCFS approval in 2008 in order to progress Wave 6 implementation.

Next Steps

38. Key milestones from the programme are detailed below, please note, dates are subject to change:

· Short list confirmed (3 bidders) - 18th October 2007
· Receipt of initial tenders - 11th March 2008
· Receipt of final tenders - 4th August 2008
· Appointment of Preferred Bidder - 1st October 2008
· Contract Award - 17th April 2009
· First school opens - September 2010

39. Recommendations

40. That Corporate Scrutiny Sub-Committee Members:
§ note the contents of this report
§ agree to receiving subsequent progress reports

Contact: Yvonne Edwards Tel: 0191 370 8856 Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Sub-Committee Developing Lifelong Learning BSF Programme Update 14 Sept 2007 Appendix 1: Education Transformation in Durham Vision for the Children's Services Authority To improve outcomes for all Children, Young People and their Families in County Durham through working in partnership to co-ordinate and integrate the delivery of services designed, developed and focused on meeting the needs of all of our children. Every Child Matters Durham County Council (DCC) has been developing, with many partners, its strategic approach to Every Child Matters and Children's Services. It has established, with these stakeholders, and with children and young people playing a central role, a vision for children, young people and their families. There are five key outcomes, jointly identified and agreed, essential to the development and well-being of our children and young people. This provides the basis of the high level strategic plan for all services to children and their families, known as the Children and Young People's Plan, which will be underpinned by an integrated commissioning framework. In County Durham all our children, young people and their families should: · Be healthy · Stay safe · Enjoy and achieve · Make a positive contribution · Achieve economic well-being In addition, all children, young people and their families will be: · Listened to · A full part of decision making · Comfortable with the decision making process · Aware of the opportunities to be involved · Treated with the same respect, dignity and status as adults Building Schools for the Future will help achieve these outcomes for all children and young people, thereby creating firm and sustainable foundations for the future success and regeneration of County Durham. Children and Young People's Plan Priorities Key Priorities: · More children choose a healthy lifestyle. · All children and young people can access services to support and promote emotional well-being. · Parents and carers have skills and support needed to be effective throughout all stages of family development. · Children and young people are protected from homelessness and failing tenancies. · Children and young people are safe from bullying, crime and anti-social behaviour as both victims and perpetrators of crime. · Attainment and achievement levels for all children are improved with gaps between groups reduced. · Children and young people access safe play, learning, leisure and recreational facilities that provide opportunities for personal and social development and enjoyment. · Children and young people and their parents are engaged in shaping and improving their communities and their own life choices and have their views on decisions that affect them represented and responded to in a meaningful way. · A positive image of children and young people is promoted whereby they feel respected in their communities and by service providers. · Reduce the number of children and young people living within or suffering the effects of poverty. · Increase levels of participation in suitable learning opportunities such as apprenticeships progressing to employment and improving employability so the gap between participation levels in groups at risk of being disadvantaged is reduced. Cross Cutting Priorities · Meeting the needs of vulnerable and hard to reach children and young people. · Transport. · Improving data collection, sharing and analysis. Although BSF is a national programme it can only be effective if it delivers education transformation in a local setting. Children and young people in Durham must gain maximum benefit from BSF investment and the 15 year programme acts as a mechanism to deliver change and improve outcomes across the board. Education Transformation in Durham consists of: · A strategic change to the pattern of school/community provision. · Individual school change to include designing schools for personalising learning. The key areas that Durham County Council is focusing on in its change management programme to improve outcomes for children and young people are: · School Organisation BSF funding will provide an opportunity to enhance choice and diversity of local provision through some possible school re-organisation, respond to the needs and aspirations of parents and contribute to raising standards. Over a 15 year timescale secondary school rolls are expected to fall considerably and it is anticipated that there will be fewer schools. Durham will have its first Trust school from September 2007 and consultation will begin at this time on proposals for three academies to be included in the pattern of provision after Wave 3 of BSF. There are currently four faith secondary schools. · Academies Consultation will begin in September 2007 on the future pattern of secondary schooling across the county to include three academies. There are no Academies included in Wave 3. · Secondary Performance Durham has recently been awarded Beacon Status for school improvement. The County Council's Achievement Services section has a strong history in monitoring pupil progress against national and local targets to help identify at an early stage schools requiring additional support. This process is enhanced by each school having its own School Improvement Partner (SIP). · 14-19 Provision BSF proposals will ensure that all 14-19 year olds have access to the 14-19 entitlement. This access will include a choice of broad range of high-quality curriculum options and ensure gaps in provision are filled through collaboration. · SEN and Disability All learners will have access to a broad and balanced curriculum. BSF capital funding will support the delivery of the SEN agenda as promoted by the SEN strategy "Removing Barriers to Achievement" and by "Every Child Matters". In terms of physical access to buildings all BSF plans must ensure compliance with DDA to ensure disabled pupils, teachers, parents have equality of opportunity. · Children's Services/Children's Trusts The BSF programme will support the delivery of integrated children's services through children's centres and extended schools. · Extended Schools and Community Provision All schools in Durham are part of a 'cluster' to ensure that local communities have access to the "core offer" of activities in accordance with national guidelines on Extended Schools provision. BSF supports the enhancement of this provision. · School Workforce Reform, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and Change Management Durham has a very comprehensive CPD programme and Head Teachers and School Leaders are already engaged in the programme to drive forward improvement following BSF investment. · Information and Communication Technology (ICT) The extended use of ICT will be a key contributor to the transformation of learning and teaching and will be a major element of both the vision and capital investment. Enabling personalised learning is a key requirement. County wide wireless broadband internet access and the aspiration to deliver ‘one device per student’ will ensure learning can take place at anytime, anywhere. Specific details are included in the County’s Designing Schools for Personalising Learning document. · Specialist School Provision All secondary schools in Durham have a specialism. New facilities in each school receiving BSF investment should reflect the specialism of the school. · PE and School Sport Provision BSF investment must enable schools to meet the National Strategy for PE and Sport (PE School Sport and Club Links, PESSCL) and work towards the 2010 ambition. A PE and Sport Stakeholder Group is to be established in Durham to ensure that there is a planned programme for the provision of sports facilities across the County. · Behaviour and Attendance Improving behaviour and attendance in schools increases the effectiveness of teaching and learning making a major contribution to raising standards. The design of a school building can significantly affect behaviour which needs to be considered in new design proposals emerging from BSF funding being available. Durham has one Pupil Referral Unit (PRU). Facilities within this can make a considerable contribution to raising standards of pupil behaviour and achievement. · Healthy Schools The National Healthy Schools Programme aims to improve educational achievement through better health and well-being and make schools safe and secure. BSF investment used to enhance facilities will address the requirements of the programme. · Personalising Learning Durham anticipates that Personalising Learning is a pathway to transforming teaching and learning, as outlined in the County’s ‘Designing Schools for Personalising Learning’ document.

Attachments