In 2006, Partnership for Schools (PfS), who are responsible for the BSF programme, also assumed responsibility for the construction element of the government’s Academy schools initiative.

Since the PfS Design and Build National Framework was launched in January, it has taken just 11 months for the first two selected bidders to be appointed. They are:

• Kier Group - appointed to build the new 1550 pupil Milton Keynes Academy, being sponsored by the Edge Foundation
• Balfour Beatty - who won a large BSF contract for Sunderland that includes three Academy schools, being sponsored by Gentoo Group, Northumbrian Water and the Leighton Group.

There are 134 academies involved in the National Framework programme with another 137 being delivered via Local Education Partnerships (LEPs) where PfS are providing ‘leadership and guidance’.

• www.p4s.org.uk