Local Education Partnerships
For details of Kent's first LEP Contract, please visit: BSF News & Updates
Kent County Council, in line with central government thinking, has concluded that the most effective way of delivering its BSF Programme is by adopting the model of the Local Education Partnership (LEP).
An LEP is a public private partnership between a local authority (LA), Partnerships for Schools (the national body responsible for delivering the Government's BSF programme) and a private sector partner selected in open competition under European Union procurement rules. It will be a joint venture company focused on delivering BSF investment and charged with making every aspect of the planned school improvements a reality.
In general, the LEP will:
• Work with the LA and other local stakeholders to develop strategic investment plans for secondary education for the area;
• Act as the single point of procurement and service provider – ranging from design, construction, project management and maintenance to ICT services;
• Integrate and manage a diverse range of supply chain sub-contractors – ranging from building contractors and facilities management services providers to ICT suppliers;
• Enable delivery of projects through a mix of procurement routes – both private finance initiative (PFI) and conventionally-funded;
• Deliver new and remodelled school buildings;
• Maintain the new and remodelled schools – including facilities management and ICT – under a long-term partnership agreement.Because of the scale of Kent’s BSF Programme, KCC has chosen to adopt a three LEP approach to ensure geographical coherence and continuity of work flow. The three LEP should also stimulate a healthy level of competition.
Under the LEP model, ownership and responsibility for all aspects of local education (including spending) remains with the LA.
For more details of Kent's first LEP, please open the LEP1 link in the left-hand navigation panel.
Local Education Partnerships: Useful Information Guides
If you have any enquiries or suggestions about how we can improve this site, please contact: bsf@kent.gov.uk
