BSEC 2010 Report: Optimism from the School's Capital Programme panel
Sectors
“That the children inside be safe, dry and warm….” were the parting words from the School’s Capital Programme of the Future panel discussion at the BSEC 2010 conference. Meant to be taken with a pinch of salt, the statement begs a bigger question that seemed to echo throughout the two-day conference: How can we ensure that in the future, our schools do more than simply meet basic needs?
More than ever before, future-focused topics like sustainability and the need to get more school with less investment were hot topics among the attendees, who ranged from head teachers to porcelain providers. With a possible change in government just around the corner, the mood was understandably anxious but also, surprisingly optimistic.
In fact, the panel, which also included David Bill, Mace director for public sector; Tim Byles, Partnerships for Schools; Sir Bruce Liddington, former schools commissioner for England and director general, EACT; Barry Sheerman MP; Anna Fazackerly, head of education, Policy Exchange and Justin Slater, Public Private Solutions, saw opportunity in a potential decrease in funding—an incentive to innovate more. The panel captured a conclusion that was pervasive throughout the conference: Through fresh thinking and good design, ensuring that our schools do more in the future could be well within reach.
“Getting more for less”
In the five years the BSF programme has been operating, only one third of the UK’s school estate has been improved. For this reason, a move away from the BSF programme and back to the pre-1997 educational system was not an option the panel was willing to consider. Including the third that hasn’t been addressed at all, almost two thirds of UK schools are still not sustainable and a massive maintenance backlog remains. Investment is an imperative and must be obtained from somewhere, regardless of government.
Put succinctly by Anna Fazackerly, the mantra for any new government will be to “deliver more for less” when it comes to building. The real issue is where resources will be focused in the future for schools: on capital or on what happens in the classroom. One solution discussed by the panel was a shift to more refurbishments of schools rather then new builds. By following the examples of countries like Sweden that utilise old fire stations and office blocks for their schools, the UK could open up a whole new exciting avenue to the building schools programme, one that is currently blocked by government regulations.
“Fit for purpose”
In David Bill’s opinion, the results of the election are not as important as ensuring that schools that are fit for purpose. Schools must be on large enough sites, sustainable and flexible spaces capable of responding to future changes and delivering the right key skills. Already local authorities such as Manchester are building academies focused on particular specialisms and sponsored by companies involved similar areas of the economy. This model can prove successful in many parts of the UK and could play a big part in schools’ capital programme for the future. In Bill’s opinion, the schools building programme does in fact have the power to make an impact on school buildings with less money, but to do this, it is vital that we retain the strategic planning of estates that has become such an integral part of the BSF programme.
“BSF won’t go away…”
Politics aside, the panel agreed that the future of schools and their continuing improvement was an imperative not a choice. All agreed that the building programme will continue with vigour and will have an ongoing focus on improved learning environments. Barry Sheerman, had the most heartening words for the audience. Having just concluded an enquiry into educational policy in the UK over recent decades, he was keen to make it clear to the audience that there has been more continuity of policy in education than people realise and this will not change overnight regardless of a change in government. “There is no need to panic,” he added, “transforming education and the Building Schools for the Future programme wont go away.” His uplifting conclusion? That we worry less about politics and continue with our day jobs: to stimulate a love of learning in our children.
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