Capital Funding for Academies Mark Hayward – EFA Capital Division CPC Conference May 2014

Purpose  Raising your awareness of key issues  Importance of strategic planning and understanding risk  Arrangements for Round to 2015 Context  Significantly reduced capital investment budget for DfE – sharper focus on funding priorities  Increasing numbers of converter academies – highly competitive environment

Academies Capital Maintenance Fund  Established in 2011  Ministerial focus on tackling building condition issues  Expanding, popular and successful academies

Academies Capital Maintenance Fund Almost 2000 academies funded to date £85m £276m £392m £463m

ACMF 2014 to 2015  Round 1 ACMF 2014 to 2015 –2015 academies, 3300 projects, requesting £1.4 billion –Allocations of £394 million to 1,134 academies for 1,388 projects  Round 2 ACMF 2014 to 2015 – for 1 building condition project only at: –academies that open from 2 December 2013 to 1 June 2014 that did not apply in Round 1 or –schools with a signed academy order at 1 June 2014 that did not apply in Round 1

Boiler and Heating system projects  A new approach in partnership with Salix Finance  Using interest free loans to support a sustainable way of funding boiler and heating system projects  Energy savings cover the repayments  Frees up future funds for other works  Moving from reactive to preventative maintenance  260 applications worth almost £75 million – funded 190 schemes worth almost £50 million  Considering how we can extend the principle for other types of project in the future

What makes a good ACMF bid  Clarity – if you can’t meet the word limit, perhaps the project needs further thought  Evidence that matches the stated priorities – we get too many bids for desirable projects  Sensible costing – a scope of works that’s appropriate together with quotes

What makes a good ACMF bid  A good project plan – an understanding of how works will be phased (particularly during term time) and of key risks  Proportionate options appraisal – so we understand your thinking  “Before you apply” – section in the guidance

Strategic Estate Planning  Why? –Support and deliver the school’s vision –Understand (and manage) legal responsibilities –More cost effective than crisis management –Good governance  Why not? –Too difficult –Perception that requires costly consultant support –Other priorities

What a good strategic plan might look like Defined Projects Quick Wins Risks Options Appraisals Solid Evidence Base Clear Priorities Opportunities for Partnership

Managing an ACMF project  Prepare well –Getting the right advice, early –Identify the right procurement process for you One off project? Phased development?  Understand and manage risks –Importance of contingency and continuous value engineering

Managing an ACMF project  Aim to be a good client –Have a team in place to oversee, challenge and support –Governance arrangements  Manage your stakeholders –Staff, pupils, parents, neighbours, EFA The risk is yours, the responsibility is yours, but the rewards are yours too!

Proposed Timetable for Round 2 ACMF 2014 to 2015 ActionDate Guidance available on websiteMid May 2014 Online application portal opensBy 13 June 2014 Recommended target date for submitting applications 16 July 2014 Deadline for submitting applications21 July 2014 at 3pm Target date for notifying successful projects Mid October 2014