When Partnerships for Schools (PfS) held its third annual conference in March 2007, 49 local authorities were engaged in BSF. This year it is 80, more than half the authorities in England, and the conference — on September 18 at the London Marriott hotel, Grosvenor Square, and open to schools, local authorities and private sector partners — will reflect delegates' greater breadth of experience.
"We have moved from a more theoretical 'how to do BSF' approach last year to sharing more of the lessons learned, knowledge accumulated, and tangible examples of how BSF is making a difference as the programme gains momentum," says Tim Byles, PfS chief executive.
The conference will include opportunities to hear from headteachers about how BSF is working in their schools, as well as updates on the programme as a whole, a look at future market developments, and views from local authorities and the design community. "Break-out" sessions in the afternoon will help delegates at different stages of the BSF process with discussions on pre-procurement, procurement and, post-procurement, the working of the local education partnership.
Chair for the day is the broadcaster and journalist John Humphrys, who will interview Tim Byles and host a Question Time panel session. Jim Knight MP, minister of state for schools and learners, will deliver the keynote speech. Next steps for the BSF programme, he says, are "continuing and sustaining the pace, improving sustainability and ensuring that we get the consistency and excellent design that we've seen, for example, at the Bristol Brunel academy."
Sir John Sorrell, co-chairman of the Sorrell Foundation, will be one of the Question Time panellists and will talk about his experiences working with young people on school design. "They are extraordinarily passionate about wanting their schools to be great places, which they can feel proud of," he says. "They want the local community to like and respect their school, and to feel proud of it too."
You can find details of the conference at: http://tinyurl.com/652eet
For inquiries call: 01483 720707
