Trowers & Hamlins

City law firm Trowers & Hamlins is advising the London Borough of Barnet on its primary school investment scheme, which is a “pathfinder” project for the £3.55 billion programme just announced by the Government to fund more than 1500 primary school new build and refurbishment projects across England.

The “Primary Capital Programme” is intended to deliver long-term strategic change in primary school education, similar to that under the “Building Schools for the Future” programme for secondary schools. Funding will be available from March of next year.

There have already been a number of successful pathfinder schemes including one currently being carried out by the London Borough of Barnet, which was one of the first local authorities to take part in a pilot scheme.

Trowers & Hamlins is continuing to advise Barnet over the course of its strategic partnership with Kier, which is on track to deliver its aim of two new schools each year.

The announcement by Jim Knight, the Minister for Schools and Learners, follows an assessment by the Government of local authorities' strategic plans for investment.  The outcome is that 41 local authorities have had their funding and strategies for 2009/10 and 2010/11 approved, 93 authorities have had their funding approved with further work needed to strengthen their strategies and 15 authorities have been told their funding will only be released once they have had advice and support to improve their strategies prior to re-submission at the end of January 2009.

Comments Helen Randall, Partner of Trowers & Hamlins, who led the Trowers & Hamlins team, “The Government’s announcement giving the green light to the Primary Capital Programme provides an exciting new prospect for local authorities to develop their education services. We are proud to have completed the first ever Barnet Primary Capital programme and delighted to see that this funding opportunity is being extended to primary education.”

“However, with the inevitable influx of primary school projects that there will be in the new year, local authorities will need to tailor procurement structures if they are to foster interest amongst potential tenderers.”

“We are delighted to be advising the London Borough of Barnet which is already well placed to deliver on its targets.”