ROBOCOP

Looks like this project will be lucky to even get the sample schools built judging by recent news. 3 years work by the LA and school teams down the drain and a heap of money that could have been directly invested in the schools instead of being blown by the LA on consultants, lawyers and accountants.

I wonder what happens if the Government scrap BSF?

Construction News says RM and Balfour Beatty have won Derby BSF.

Apparently Northgate and Balfour Beatty have won Oldham BSF. Anyone else heard this?

Ahh, that explains a lot. Being able to opt out is pretty rare - are you going to be an Academy or just a refurb?

Depends upon your point of view and if you are due to TUPE - most members here seem to have a very different opinion of BSF and will be overjoyed if it is scrapped. Tell us you're still a 'BSF survivor' in a few years time.

Hmm, I don't think everyone here will agree with your opinion.

That was speculation printed nearly 2 weeks ago and there's still be no official line from the Government on what exactly is going to happen. There may be some news in the emergency budget next week but suspect the actual fate of BSF and many schools currently in the middle of the process won't be discovered until after the Government summer recess in early Autumn.

He doesn't know anymore than anyone else which is pretty much zero at the moment so he shouldn't really be offering his opinion to his staff - that said he's probaly right though

You've hit the nail on the head there Broc.

I'm not gloating, just telling people to not get too excited about the prospect of BSF being scrapped without thinking through what the impact or alternatives may be. What school do you work in that's had proper ICT investemnent and a 5 and 10 year planned strategy in place??? We have to bid every year for evey penny we can get in a budget and then it's usually taken back!

I think you will be ok for the sample schools at least (they are the only schools which the first Financial Close covers) but the following planned phases may be in doubt. I think the Times article wasn't quite correct now I look at it again - I believe only new projects which got Treasury PRG approval to go to market after 1/1/2010 and those projects not yet reached Financial Close are being reviewed. If the Government cancels projects where Financial Close has been reached they will have to award compensation as they are terminating signed and legally binding contracts - this could run to tens if not hundreds of millions especially if the LAs/Schools sue for compensation too.

Sorry - I didn't see that he had edited his reply and didn't read the original which I see from your reply said "it's being scrapped" which I agree is far from confirmed. Will be interesting to hear from everyone involved in BSFs (either being planned, bidding, at selected bidder or in sample schemes in construction) what's happening with them.

I think the Tories have slagged off BSF so much that they cannot do anything else but scrap it however I suspect they will just re-introduce PFIs (which after all they invented) to finance all the new Academies which they want. At least PFIs don't generally include ICT or getting the private sector embroiled in delivering education which BSF did.