Transparency data

Accounting officer assessment: schools buying programme (SBP)

Updated 30 April 2024

Applies to England

Accounting officers scrutinise significant policy proposals or plans of major projects, and then assess whether these plans measure up to the standards set out in managing public money managing public money.

From April 2017, the government has committed to make a summary of the key points from these assessments available to Parliament when an accounting officer has agreed an assessment of projects within the government’s major projects portfolio (GMPP).

This is a summary of the accounting officer assessment of the schools buying programme (SBP).

Background

The schools buying programme is designed to help schools achieve value for money. It contributes to the efficiency and sustainability portfolios. The programme is designed to support schools to:

• achieve value for money on their non-staff spend
• be more sustainable
• change the behaviours of buyers in schools to achieve greater value for money and allow more money to be spent on improving educational outcomes

The programme aims are to:

• make sure buying decision makers can access the right services and tools at the right time to maximise value for money
• offer schools data-driven and evidence-led products and services and make sure user needs are central to decisions
• be a trusted advisor to schools, improving commercial capability and supporting our stakeholders’ networks
• work in partnership to increase the resilience of schools and help them to be more sustainable

Assessment against accounting officer standards

Regularity

At present the programme does not require any new legislation. The programme continues to comply with Parliamentary requirements for the control of expenditure, with programme funds being applied only to the extent and for the purposes authorised by Parliament.

Propriety

The schools buying programme operates within a governance framework which includes established programme and operations boards. The Schools Commercial team (SCT) and the wider schools resource management portfolio have a wide range of stakeholders, including external representation from the education sector, who provide insights and feedback on the programme’s progress. The programme’s governance operates in line with the principles and controls set out in managing public money.

The programme business case is reviewed regularly by the SCT programme and operations management team (POMT) to ensure it accurately reflects the current activity and progress of the programme. POMT work with business partners and the senior responsible officer (SRO) to assess any requirements for review by the department’s investment committee. The programme business case (PBC) was last approved by investment committee in September 2020. This will be resubmitted to investment committee in the event of any major amendments.

Value for money (VfM)

There is a strong VfM rationale for investment in the schools buying programme. While there are already many examples of excellent practice in procurement and contract management, extensive user research demonstrates the additional value the programme can deliver.

The programme’s services and support are helping schools and academies across England achieve monetizable savings in their non-staff spend which can then be reinvested into education for pupils. Published programme outcomes in Schools commercial: performance of initiatives evidence savings generated.

Table of the programme generated savings over the last 3 financial years (FYs)

Performance of initiatives (published August 2022)	Savings FY 2021 to 2022	Savings FY 2020 to 2021	Savings FY 2019 to 2020
Increase in realised contract term savings delivered by the schools buying hubs	£14.1 million	£11.5 million	£9.2 million
Salix loan efficiency schemes	£26.5 million	£23.4 million	£20.9 million
Risk protection arrangement (RPA) savings to members	£114.3 million	£101.6 million	£88.7 million
RPA savings to non members	£38.1 million	£45.3 million	£47.1 million
RPA savings for local authority-maintained schools (LAMS)	£13.2 million	£4.3 million	No data
Total	£206.20 million	£186.1 million	£165.9 million

Feasibility

The programme remains deliverable in performance, cost, and time. The programme delivery approach has been subject to review and assurance by both internal Department for Education (DfE) assurance groups and external parties. An independent assurance review of the programme delivery strategy was conducted in March 2022 and assessed programme delivery confidence as green. The green rating has been assigned on the basis that successful delivery to time, cost and quality appears highly likely and there are no major outstanding issues that appear to threaten delivery. Following the independent assurance review, the team are proactively responding to recommendations to maintain the green rating and have a plan in place to achieve this.

Conclusion

As the accounting officer for the Department for Education, I have prepared this summary to set out the key points which informed my decision.

My overall assessment is that the schools buying programme meets the requirements of the 4 accounting officer tests of regularity, propriety, value for money and feasibility. I am therefore satisfied that the programme is a good use of public resources.

If any of these factors change materially during the lifetime of this programme, I will undertake to prepare a revised summary, setting out my assessment of those factors.

This summary will be published on the government’s website (GOV.UK). Copies will be deposited in the Library of the House of Commons and sent to the Comptroller and Auditor General and Treasury Officer of Account

Susan Acland-Hood

Permanent Secretary