BSF debate now live

Construction went into shock at the cancellation of the £55bn Building Schools for the Future programme by education secretary Michael Gove. The blunders over the list of schools affected and not affected didn’t help to ease the uncertainties.

Despite threats of legal challenges there have been no compensation claims from councils or contractors, but could that change? What are the grounds for a claim and indeed the prospects of success? Would launching a claim be wise when the governments plans for capital spending on schools have not yet been revealed? What can we expect from Sebastian James’ review of school building? And what opportunities does the ‘free schools’ policy offer construction?

If you have worked on BSF projects, lost out on contracts or just have an opinion or question about its cancellation we want to hear from you.

On our panel we have two experts ready to answer your questions:

• Jonathan Hart, a partner at law firm Pinsent Masons projects and construction group. In the education sector he has advised on projects being procured using project-financed and non-project financed solutions, framework contracts, bundled PFI schemes and those procured using the Building Schools for the Future standard documentation.  He has acted for and advised public sector procuring authorities, sponsors, private contractors, facilities managers, funders and investors.
• James Bowyer, head of Building Schools for the Future and other major schools programmes for EC Harris where he is responsible for teams delivering service excellence in the BSF and Academies market. James has over 13 years of project management experience and he has worked with local authorities, bidders, LEP’, DCSF and academy sponsors.
• Chris Hill, the head of construction and engineering at law firm Norton Rose, which is one of the panel of legal advisors to Partnerships for Schools (PfS) and Local Education Authorities on BSF.