As most people are now aware, Building Schools for the Future (BSF) was launched in February 2004 with the intention to either rebuild or remodel every state secondary school in England.

There is clearly an opportunity for BSF to be the catalyst for significant change and to embed a practical, sustainable concept of ‘community use' of schools. KKP is at the forefront of the drive to make this aspiration a reality, primarily from a sports perspective, but whether it involves sports halls, pitches, classrooms or ICT equipment for adult education, the same principles and challenges apply.

Optimising benefit, whether for education, revenue or community use, requires clarity and a strong sense of purpose. Education professionals, developers and local communities must know what they are trying to achieve and why; particularly as each group arrives at the process with different needs and aspirations.

For example, essential for teachers is appropriate (secure and safe) space available at the right time to deliver quality learning; LEA staff are driven (in the main) by a need to meet timescales (that are invariably tight) and budgets based on educational need but expected to achieve more. Architects try to interpret the needs of all users and to create ‘inspirational environments for learning' whilst accommodating community use that is financially viable. Contractors strive to complete developments on time and within budget while community clubs wish to continue offering coaching and competitive activity as they have always done, but in more comfort and preferably cheaper!

Stereotypical - yes!, but these analogies are based on recent experience. It is important to recognise that BSF processes are complex and can both disrupt and skew existing arrangements and leave little time for partnerships to mature. This can limit the opportunity for locally specific, well thought-through working practices to become established, particularly when agencies must start from scratch. It is almost impossible to start preparing for BSF too soon; even if where there is sufficient time to prepare there are invariably conflicts (and disappointments) along the way.

Principles necessary to transform provision

The actions required to transform provision and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes within the timescales available should adhere to the following principles:

• Honest, accurate self-assessment (at all management levels) plus clear understanding of what is required and why.
• Involvement of all stakeholders in the development process; from the outset.
• Process leaders with the courage to distil difficult messages unequivocally. 
• Ability to make innovative, non-standard decisions.
• Development of effective systems to check the progress and impact of actions. 
• High expectations linked to clear lines of accountability.
• Close attention to skills development.
• Involvement of staff with the right drive, commitment and energy.
• Development of appropriate support mechanisms at all levels.
• Creation of a strong identity and sense of belonging, to which all actions contribute.
• Pride in, and inter-agency recognition of, collective achievement.
• Development of a community use ethos based on a set of well understood values.

Above all, it is clear, consistent and regular communication at, and between, all levels (both within and outwith a school) that will dictate the success, or otherwise, of a BSF project or programme.

... and finally

Invariably, this requires strong leadership, a step change in project development and management, how and why partnerships are created and what education buildings are for. It requires schools to be more outward looking and sympathetic to the needs of others and for local authorities to optimise the opportunity that BSF affords by integrating schools and communities via a format that is mutually beneficial, affordable and forward looking. Involvement of potential beneficiaries, stakeholders and members of the community at an early stage can help this process and ensure greater objectivity.

Thorough, comprehensive business planning is equally important in terms of achieving these objectives and ensuring a long-lasting legacy... but that is something to pick up on in another edition of KKP News!

Find out more about KKP's expertise in BSF planning