Sustainable Communities for Learning rolling programme
Guidance for delivery partners to transition to the Sustainable Communities for Learning Rolling Programme of investment.
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Overview
This information is for local authorities, further education institutions, and diocesan authorities. It will continue to help with the transition to the rolling programme of capital investment.
Introduction
The first wave of investment (Band A) of the programme was under the banner of ‘21st Century Schools and Education’. It represented a £1.7 billion investment over the 5-year period ending 2018 to 2019. 170 schools were rebuilt or refurbished thanks to this investment. The second tranche of investment (Band B) began in April 2019. It was expanded to include further education colleges and renamed the ‘21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme’.
In January 2022 the programme was renamed ‘Sustainable Communities for Learning (SCfL)’. This name makes a clear statement about the Welsh Government’s commitment to:
- the environment
- community cohesion
- our future generations
The SCfL will see a further £2.3 billion of investment in school and college infrastructure. This investment uses both public capital and revenue.
Through a co-construction approach, the SCfL programme is delivered at the pace and to the priority of the delivery partners. Lessons learned from Band A, and the transition into the current Band B, have highlighted the complexity and protracted nature associated with delivering a number of projects through the current ‘fixed’ programme timelines.
Aims of the rolling programme
The rolling programme will improve efficiency and delivery for the Welsh Government and its delivery partners.
Underpinned by a programme for government commitment to ‘Invest more than £1.5 billion in the next phase of the 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme’, the rolling programme will strengthen one of the key attributes of the SCfL programme. This attribute sees projects being taken forward at the pace of and to the priorities of delivery partners. This removes the environment of ‘over-optimism’ and the need for delivery partners to put forward overly ambitious proposals during what is typically a narrow bidding window.
Educational transformation will remain a vital outcome of our investment in the programme.
Impact of the rolling programme on the SCfL programme
The SCfL programme is now transitioning from the typical 5-year strategic outline programme (SOP) investment cycle to that of a dynamic rolling 9-year SOP. It will:
- be reviewed and updated on a 3-year cycle
- align with the Wales Infrastructure Investment Strategy, (published December 2021) and its 3-year Infrastructure Finance Plans (IFPs)
All local authorities and further education institutions were asked to submit their SOPs for the rolling programme by 31 March 2024.
Rolling programme SOPs
The rolling programme SOPs are supported by 9-year investment plans. These plans are broken down into 3 phases:
- years 1 to 3
- years 4 to 6
- years 7 to 9
Approval of a SOP provides ‘in-principle’ support for projects in years 1 to 3 and years 4 to 6. Projects included in years 7 to 9 are noted as future priorities.
Partners will review their SOPs at least every 3 years to follow the programme investment objectives outlined in the following table.
As part of their rolling programme 9-year plan, delivery partners were permitted to include projects approved in principle during Band B, but not FBC approved.
| Years | Expectation |
|---|---|
| 1, 2 and 3 | Projects expected to reach full business case within the 3 years |
| 4, 5 and 6 | Projects being developed and going through statutory consultation |
| 7, 8 and 9 | Pipeline projects |
The programme is able to provide funding to support stakeholders to deliver their priority education projects. The amount that the Welsh Government provides is dependent on the type of school or college project involved.
Current intervention rates have been retained to support the deliverability and affordability of delivery partners’ individual programmes, as per the following table.
| Category | Intervention rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Community, voluntary controlled and foundation schools | 65 |
| Voluntary aided schools of religious character | 85 |
| Special schools and pupil referral units (PRUs) | 75 |
| Mutual Investment Model (revenue-funded element) | 81 |
| Mutual Investment Model (associated capital cost) | 65 |
| Further education institutions | 65 |
| Extra over-costs of net zero carbon (NZC) (Band B) | 100 |
Programme investment objectives
Investment objectives are the outcomes that the Welsh Government aim to achieve through their investment with delivery partners in the Programme. These objectives:
- guide the selection of investment and the allocation of funding
- ensure that public money is prioritised appropriately
Transforming learning environments and learner experience
- Supporting all learners to be healthy, engaged, enterprising and ethical citizens, ready to play a full part in life and work, within places of learning that are safe, inclusive and free from discrimination and bullying.
- Improving learner experience and wellbeing in the built environment, supporting the delivery of Curriculum for Wales.
- Providing first-class digital infrastructure to improve learning environments and teaching methods for students of all ages and for the wider community.
- Supporting learners with additional learning needs and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Meeting demand for school places
- Providing efficient and effective educational infrastructure that will meet current and future demand for places.
- Actively supporting the delivery of the authority’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.
- Providing the right number of places for the delivery of Welsh- and English- medium education.
- Addressing sufficiency issues where relevant.
Improving condition and suitability of the education estate
- Reducing backlog maintenance costs for the schools and colleges selected for the programme taking account of the overall estate.
- Removing category D condition and suitability buildings from the estate.
- Reducing category C condition and suitability buildings and improving condition to category A or B condition.
Developing sustainable learning environments
- Working towards whole-life Net Zero Carbon (NZC) through the programme’s mandated NZC in operation and the embodied carbon targets in line with the Welsh Government’s Carbon Reduction Commitments.
- Delivering sustainable learning environments that invest in biodiversity to enhance the surrounding environment and support active travel.
Supporting the community
- Community Focused Schools, optimising the use of infrastructure and resources to deliver public services working in collaboration with teachers, staff, governing bodies, learners, families and communities. This will include flexibility of our assets so that space and facilities are available outside school hours for extra-curricular, adult and community learning.
- Maximising community benefits and social value through the supply chain.
- Providing greater opportunities for adult learning, allowing community members to learn new skills and develop their confidence.
- Supporting multi-agency partnerships and offering an integrated approach to support learners and the community, including co-location of services.
Further information
Enquiries about this document should be directed to:
Education Infrastructure, Gov & Finance
The Education Directorate
Welsh Government Cathays Park Cardiff
CF10 3NQ