Councillor Zena Brabazon, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, approved the commencement of an open tender process for School Improvement and Governor Services. A budget of up to £3,686,107 has been approved for an eight-year contract, commencing in April 2025.

Haringey School Improvement and Governor Services

Councillor Zena Brabazon approved the proposal to proceed with an open tender for the commissioning of School Improvement and Governor Services. This decision ensures that statutory and strategic functions can continue to be delivered and maintains compliance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the Council's Contract Standing Order policy. A budget of up to £3,686,107 has been approved for an eight-year contract, structured as four years with two optional two-year extensions, beginning on 1st April 2025 and concluding on 31st March 2033.

The report presented to Councillor Brabazon highlighted that the current provider, Haringey Education Partnership (HEP), no longer meets the criteria for an exemption from competitive tendering under Regulation 12 of the Public Contract Regulations 2015. This is due to HEP's expansion of its services to schools outside of the Haringey Local Authority area, meaning that non-Haringey schools now constitute more than 20% of its membership and income.

The decision to proceed to open tender was made to ensure compliance with procurement regulations. Alternative options considered included a direct award to HEP, which was deemed non-compliant, and insourcing the service, which was assessed as being more costly than the current outsourced model.

The new contract will cover statutory functions such as Key Stage 1 and 2 moderation, delivery of the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE), local authority governor appointments, and support for schools causing concern. It will also encompass strategic functions including professional liaison between the Council and schools, attendance at Ofsted inspections, data analysis, and support for school performance targets.

The budget for the service is funded through the Dedicated School Grant: Central School Services Block (CSSB). It is noted that the CSSB budget is facing pressures due to a forecast annual decrease of 2.5%, which has been factored into the proposed budget. Consequently, no inflationary uplift will be applied during the contract period.

The tender process will include criteria to ensure that applicants demonstrate a commitment to reducing energy consumption and achieving sustainable environmental targets. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the new service will focus on improving Ofsted ratings, pupil progress and attainment, closing attainment gaps for disadvantaged students and minority ethnic groups, and enhancing attendance and SEND support.

The report also detailed Haringey Council's role as the supervising authority for HEP under the School Companies Act 2002, a responsibility that will continue regardless of the outcome of the tender process. This role involves directing the company to provide information, ensuring compliance with regulations, and potentially directing governing bodies to adjust their involvement with the company.

The tender process is scheduled to commence in July 2024, with the aim of awarding the contract in December 2024 for a start date of 1st April 2025. The report also confirmed that the proposed contract aligns with Haringey's Corporate Delivery Plan and the Haringey SEND Strategy, with a focus on promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion within schools.

The decision was made following consultation with the Director of Finance, Strategic Procurement, and the Head of Legal and Governance, all of whom confirmed the legality and financial soundness of the proposed approach. An equality analysis was also conducted, indicating a positive impact on individuals with protected characteristics.

The full details of the report and the decision can be found in the Public reports pack and the Printed minutes.