Parnerships UK Report on post-signature Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects

A survey commissioned by the DfES in 2005 from Partnerships UK into signed PFI contracts shows that overall, there are good levels of satisfaction with PFI schools and services in the schools surveyed. Teachers say that they are delighted with the buildings, which are well designed, and work well.

Schools were delivered on time and sometimes to a higher level of finish than the specification. The facilities are already well respected by pupils and the community. There has been a positive impact on children, behaviour and attendance.

They are pleased with the catering service, and higher proportions of children are staying in school for lunch. Security has improved. Buildings maintenance is better than it was before. Applications to the school have risen. And educational standards, which are the ultimate point of it all, have risen.

The strong lesson is that contracts work best where there co-operative partnership working between the public and private sectors.

However, there are areas where some schools have been disappointed, and the report makes several recommendations for improvement, all of which the department is happy to accept and to work on implementing.

The main areas where schools are not satisfied are the working of helpdesks, and agreeing variations to contract in response to developing needs.

The report was based on early contracts, and many of the recommendations have already been incorporated in later contracts. The Department and its partners, including HM Treasury, PUK, 4ps and now PfS have learned from experience and worked to standardise and improve contracts, both for the private sector partners and the schools.

PFI is not yet perfect, and we will continue to work hard in partnership with the schools and the industry to implement the recommendations, to learn from experience and continuously to improve.

Last updated: 30 July 2007