Primary Capital Programme: Latest News
Primary Capital Programme
The Primary Capital Programme (PCP) has gone live and every local authority has started to plan and procure their initial school building projects from this April. PCP is committed to renewing at least half of all primary school buildings by 2022-23.
PCP is enabling local authorities to think long term and strategically about teaching and learning in 21st-century primary schools and how capital investment can support wider transformation. Local authorities were asked to prepare a Primary Strategy for Change (SfC) showing how this investment will support transformation. The vast majority of SfC's have now been approved with individual funding allocations confirmed.
Local authorities collectively have said that they are planning to start major projects at more than 1000 schools during 2008-11. This includes over 350 new or replacement primary schools and a major refurbishment or new facilities provided for around 850 schools.
Twenty-three local authorities nominated as Regional Pathfinders for PCP shared £150 million of funding in 2008-9 to deliver exemplar projects and share good practice in their region. These projects will be completed by September 2009.
PCP is supported by £1.9 billion of new capital investment from 2008 to 2011.
Local authorities were notified of the outcome of the Department's assessment of strategic plans for delivery of the Primary Capital Programme on 12 November 2008.
The overall picture is extremely encouraging, enabling the Department to confirm funding for 90 per cent of local authorities. The Department is providing tailored professional advice and support to help the remaining authorities improve their strategies with a view to ensuring that every local authority is able to make a start on its initial priorities with effect from 1 April 2009. See the Written Ministerial Statement for further details.
Milestones
- Autumn 2008
Local authorities advised of assessment outcomes: approval/confirmation of indicative allocations - Autumn 2008
Launch of PCP Supporting Guidance and Case Studies - End of March 2009
Funding for national roll-out commences
Primary Strategy for Change (PSfC)
- All English local authorities are eligible for the Primary Capital
Programme. To access funding authorities were asked to prepare and submit for
approval to the Department a (PSfC) by 16 June 2008. Depending on the outcome
of the assessment of the PSfCs, LAs have been allocated one of three
categories:
— Approved
— Approved with modifications
— Not approved
Last updated: 16 June 2009
