1. Poole Grammar School Accommodation of Yr 7 Children
Partnership Agreement
February 2007
Michael Thompson
TEAM FOCUS – RTL Ltd

2. The Project
There is a need to accommodate Year 7 children into the school as part of seeking to change the age of transfer in Poole
The buildings required have been assessed based on curriculum analysis
The scope of the work required has been agreed with the school

3. Project Management
The chair of governors has proposed that one of the governors (after resignation from the governing body) manages the project and takes complete control over the process, keeping independent of the local authority
Financial regulations do not allow this, as competition is required in the appointment of the Project Manager
Poole has been allocated responsibility by the DfES for the build works

4. Best Value
Poole BC has an obligation to achieve “Best Value” with this project
This not only includes getting the best value for money from the construction the additional buildings
It means meeting the needs of the school in terms of its agreed functions, for the life of the buildings

5. Best Value
The CABE five principles of good design are probably relevant:
Functionality in use: Is the finished product fit for purpose? Does it use know-how and innovation to provide business and social value? Does it optimise the operational cost of core services, and the productivity of the staff?
Build quality: It is built on whole life principles – lasting and easy to maintain?
Efficiency and sustainability: Will it be completed on time, to budget, to specification? Is it environmentally efficient?
Design in context: Is it respectful of its context?
Aesthetic quality: Does it meet a need for non-institutional, individual character?

6. Best Value
Will the new development fit into any longer term plans for the school?

7. The Project Team
The background and reasons for the governors seeking control of the project management need to be understood
It also needs to be understood how this can be accommodated in the project management to everyone’s satisfaction

8. “Excellence through Partnership”
Poole Grammar School is used to the concepts of
“Excellence through Partnership”
all in an educational culture that is technological, enterprising and vocationally aware.

9. The Project Team
Poole Grammar School is used to the concepts of “Excellence through Partnership”

10. Partnership There are essentials to achieving a good partnership:
Everyone understanding what the benefits of a true partnership are
Everyone being committed to that partnership, and in particular, being committed to the achievement of a best value project that will fulfil the required functions for the whole life of the project

11. Partnership
This requires good effective communication between all members of the project team, and a clear understanding of everyone’s needs and concerns
It requires the development of trust between all members of the team – that all members are accountable for what they and they do it right first time
It requires developing a set of common objectives, so that everyone is focussed in the same direction

12. Partnership Agreement Workshop
The workshop would set out to initiate / achieve:
Strong relationships between all members of the team
Heads of Terms for a Partnership Agreement including
Code of Practice for working together
Measurables for understanding how well the team is performing (periodic reviews)
Team Structure / Clear roles and responsibilities
Clear ideas / understanding for the development and fulfilment of the project as a team

13. Further Development of the Project
Beyond the Partnering Agreement Workshop, whether at Poole Grammar School or at other schools where development is required, there are further processes that help to meet best value and best practice:
The CABE five principles of good design
The Exemplar Design Brief
They are focussed around Value and Risk Management

14. Not necessarily relevant at Poole Grammar School
Exemplar Design Brief
Good clear organisation, an easily legible plan and full accessibility
Spaces that are well proportioned, efficient, fit for purpose and meet needs of curriculum
Circulation that is well organised and sufficiently generous
Good environmental conditions throughout , including appropriate levels of natural light and ventilation
Attractiveness in design, comparable to that found in other quality public buildings, to inspire pupils, staff and parents
Good use of the site, and public presence as a civic building to engender local pride
Attractive external spaces with a good relationship to internal spaces, offering appropriate security, and variety of settings
A layout that encourages broad community access and use out of hours
Robust materials that are attractive, will weather and wear well and are environmentally friendly
Flexible design that will facilitate changes in the policy and technology, which allows expansion / contraction in the future
Not necessarily relevant at Poole Grammar School

15. Value Management Methodology
Put in place the Team Culture
Gather all information available – identify missing information, forbidden issues, risks etc.
Assess the functions to be achieved (Function Analysis)
Create ideas
Evaluate ideas, using evaluation criteria e.g. CABE
Develop one or more proposals that provide value enhancement at no greater risk
Present and agree final proposal
Implement

16. Benefits of the Value Process
It strengthens the team and provides stronger focus on the project
It establishes consensus
It removes preferential engineering (wouldn’t it be nice to have?)
It avoids cost cutting with increased risk
It establishes a strong audit trail
It reduces the need for changes in design at a later stage

17. Let us establish the partnership!
But first of all ……
Let us establish the partnership!