Background to the BSF Capital Investment Programme

The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Capital Investment Programme is the biggest single government investment in improving school buildings for over 50 years.

The aim is to provide flexible, inclusive environments, allowing for innovative organisation and structures so that every child can be educated in an environment that reflects the needs of its community in the 21st century. BSF supports agendas such as personalisation, workforce reform, involving the community, extending facilitates and enhancing the 14-19 arrangements.

Every secondary school in England will go through rebuilding or a level of remodelling over the next 15 years. However the aim of the Capital Investment Programme is to bring tangible benefits which will go beyond mere building works. BSF has to be about realising the potential of every young person and improving their life chances in a new knowledge economy. Education and learning must take account of how young people live their lives and the skills that they need for their future.

To deliver this required step change, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) works with the following four national agencies:

Partnerships for Schools (PfS)

Prepare the public and private sectors for the opportunity.
Build local government procurement expertise.
Prepare local politicians and school governors for the private finance aspects of the programme.
Manage this transformation process through investment and on-going service delivery, through the establishment of Local Education Partnerships, and using both private finance initiatives (PFI) and other forms of contract.

Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)

Improve local government’s understanding and delivery of good design.

4ps (Public Private Partnerships Programme)

Work in partnership with all local authorities to secure funding and accelerate the development, procurement and implementation of PFI schemes, public-private partnerships, complex projects and programmes.

National College of School Leadership (NCSL)

To support school leaders and local authorities in developing their vision for future learning and managing the change.