School Buildings
Funding
There are several streams of capital funding available to schools and academies. The main ones are devolved formula capital (DFC) and SCA (school condition allocation) or, for academies, Condition Improvement Fund (CIF). For further details on these and other funding streams please click here.
Capital works notification
For Voluntary Aided (VA) schools and academies on church land, the approval of the Diocesan Board of Education is required for all projects over £5,000. Please click here to download the application form if you are a VA school and click here if you are an academy.
Due to the LA’s duty of care to all pupils, all maintained schools and church academies need to inform the local authority of all planned building projects. Please email landlords consent well in advance of any planned works: Landlords.Consent@nottscc.gov.uk
You’ll also need to consider whether planning permission might be required.
Project management
Voluntary controlled schools are supported on capital projects by the local authority and ARC.
VA’s and academies can choose to manage building projects in-house or can use an external buildings consultant.
We are happy to recommend a local buildings consultant.
CP Associates specialise in school buildings and have supported our church schools and academies over many years.
If you chose not to use a consultant, some of the things you need to ensure contractors provide are: full risk assessments and insurance, a pre-agreed contract, guarantees / warranties, and that all asbestos and other required H&S checks are carried out.
VAT
VA’s need to be aware that VAT cannot be recovered on capital works. The governing body of VA schools are responsible for capital works. They are not an eligible body for VAT recovery. The SCA for VA’s is inflated to allow for this disadvantage.
Academy conversions – land and buildings
Conversion to academy status requires a lot of legal work to alter the arrangements for governance and occupation of a school site.
Schools considering academy conversion are encouraged to consult with the Diocesan Director of Education at an early stage.
For more information and help
I can deal with most queries over the phone and email. I’m also very happy to come and visit your school.
01636 817237 or email:
jess.lane@southwell.anglican.org
Mon & Tues 09:00 – 15:00. Wed 09.30 – 14.30