Primary Capital Programme
The Government is committed to renewing at least half of all primary school buildings by 2022-2023 through the Primary Capital Programme. The aim is to create primary schools that are equipped for 21st century teaching and learning, and are at the heart of their communities with children’s services in reach of every family.
Twenty-three local authorities were chosen as pathfinders for the programme in 2007 and will receive funding in 2008–2009.
The Department for Children, Schools and Famililes (DCSF) issued guidance for all local authorities in December 2007. Each local authority will be required to produce a primary strategy for change.
Timeframes
The timeframe for the preparation and approval of the primary strategy for change is:
- From December 2007, the local authority develops and agrees a local primary strategy for change on the basis of the DCSF guidance. During this period, your local authority should be consulting the school community.
- By 16 June 2008, local authorities submit their primary strategy for change.
- From April 2009, funding is available for authorities with an approved primary strategy for change in place.
Transforming education
Key aims of the Primary Capital Programme are to deliver:
- quality school environments that facilitate personalised learning and deliver high standards
- first-class facilities so pupils can study in a way that suits them; facilities that equip schools to play a part in the Every Child Matters agenda; and quality learning environments that enhance teachers' flexibility.
The importance of technology
Guidance from the DCSF says, 'Investment through the Primary Capital Programme will enable a step change in the level of ICT provision in primary schools. ICT touches all areas of school management and is used by learners, and all staff. It should be considered in all elements of the educational environment, including life long-learning opportunities for the community as a whole.'
Planning technology: what should you be doing?
All schools taking part in the Primary Capital Programme will have a major opportunity to work with their local authority to design learning spaces that support innovative, flexible approaches to learning. Technology can also transform learning and teaching, and contribute significantly to a personalised curriculum, but it must be integrated with planning design from the start.
You need to ensure that you have a vision for how technology can enhance learning, for instance, by supporting collaboration, communication and creativity. An effective vision for ICTsupports and enhances the school’s aims in terms of learning, teaching, management and administration.
Developing a vision for ICT outlines how schools can help to ensure that planning for technology is integral to developments from the start.
By setting up a process of consultation with all stakeholders, including staff, pupils, parents, governors and your local community, you can define what you want technology to enable your school to do. Equally important is shaping a strategy for change, to ensure that the newly built or refurbished school will enable all members of the community to take advantage of it in the ways you intend.
Your local authority will have appointed a team to oversee this project. This team will be developing the local authority strategy for change and should be working with you to agree a vision for the project and also for the role that technology will play in it.
Those local authorities that are already part of the Building Schools for the Future programme may have already set up a local education partnership (LEP) to deliver an ICT managed service. It is recommended that, where possible, the local authority takes advantage of this when planning for the Primary Capital Programme.
As a school, you should be:
- creating a vision for your school’s educational outcomes which relates to your local authority's overall aspirations
- finding out who is leading the project in your local authority, including the technology aspects, to ensure that you get involved from the outset
- using self-review tools to determine your current technology use and help you plan for the future
- working with your local authority to ensure that your plans also benefit the wider community
- enabling discussions with teachers, learners, governors, parents and the wider community in planning changes for the new school
- becoming familiar with processes involved in effective technology management and evaluating your current technical support arrangements.
Self-review tools
Support is available to help you in developing both an ICT vision and a strategy that will deliver it. Becta has developed a number of self-review and planning tools:
Self-review framework
Becta's self-review framework is an online tool to help schools review and develop their use of technology in every area of learning, teaching and management. The first section focuses on creating (and reviewing) a vision for technology and on developing a strategy to achieve the vision. The self-review framework is also a valuable tool in helping schools to embed technology as part of whole-school improvement, and for highlighting areas for professional development.
Framework for ICT Technical Support (FITS)
The FITS materials can help you to assess your current provision of technical support and give you a benchmark to plan further improvements and progress.
ICT investment planner
This tool will help you understand the annual operation and replacement costs of technology in your school. It highlights how the value and cost of technology changes over time and provides a sound basis for planning future technology investments.
Learning platforms functionality tool
This will help your school to focus on what needs to be done to implement and use a learning platform effectively. Consider the area-wide services planned by your local authority, which will include developments for accessing resources from home.
Further information
For further information about the Primary Capital Programme, see the Teachernet website.
'Primary Strategy for Change: Guidance for local authorities on developing, agreeing and implementing a strategic approach to capital investment for primary schools' contains useful information for schools on the priorities set for local authorities. The document is available on the Teachernet website.
