Study to examine condition of 23,000 schools will form basis for future funding

A programme to survey the condition of up to 23,000 schools in England to determine future funding priorities is to be split between up to nine regional bidders.

The work, worth between £10m and £30m in fees, was put out to tender by delivery agency Partnerships for Schools on Monday. It follows the government’s acceptance of a recommendation in the James review to establish the condition of the current schools estate and use this data to prioritise future building work.

The data will initially be used to help prioritise maintenance funding for schools, but could also inform funding allocations for a new national school building programme following the cancellation of the £55bn Building Schools for the Future programme and subsequent James review, the second consultation on which closed last week.

The contracts, which PfS intends to award in February next year, will be for an initial two year period with the option of extending for another three years. PfS is also tendering for an asset management software system to support the survey.

The work will be split into nine regional lots, with PfS hoping to award only a maximum of three lots to any one bidder. A bidders day will be held on 26 October in Westminster, London.

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