Strategic Core

County Hall

Martineau Lane

Norwich

NR1 2DL

Minicom: (01603 223833)

  Simon Conner

SC/BS/CWT/SH 01603 222569

To Headteachers of LEA Schools (excluding Foundation Schools)

Dear Headteacher

During the autumn term last year, NPS carried out Condition Surveys which formed the first element of the Authority's Asset Management Plan process. The detailed information contained in those surveys was sent to the DfEE in January and supported the Authority's New Deal for Schools (NDS) submission.

Norfolk received capital grant allocation of £8.852m under the NDS programme, the majority linked to urgent repair and maintenance. As a result work is taking place to remove and replace asbestos, replace boilers and improve heating systems, replace and upgrade electrical services, and carry out structural repairs at those schools identified as having the most urgent needs on their AMP condition surveys. The DfEE have recently confirmed that the formula allocation which forms part of the Capital Guideline process this December will be based on condition information. The Capital Guideline provides the County Council with borrowing approvals and is currently the major source of education capital funding.

There are two further elements to the Asset Management Plan;

• sufficiency which is the number of school places available and involves an assessment of the school's accommodation capacity;
• suitability which covers the appropriateness of the accommodation and site to deliver the curriculum and support the management and organisation of the school

In respect of sufficiency, the DfEE are proposing to replace the More Open Enrolment (MOE) and Annex A measurements and formulae with an assessment process which is far more detailed and looks at how space is used. Final detailed guidance is expected later this year and it is very likely that all schools will have to be remeasured over a two year period.

The starting point for both sufficiency and suitability is to agree with you the plan of the school, room use and room numbering as at September 2000. This will be entered into the Authority's Asset Management Plan database and form the basis of all future discussions

with you about accommodation needs and priorities. If you already use a room numbering system, then this will be adopted by the Authority rather than set up a new one.

Sufficiency also covers site areas and this exercise is intended to confirm site boundaries and team game playing field areas (where appropriate). It is also important that the location and use of any detached playing fields, leased land and land used but owned by another school or organisation is identified.

Suitability applies to both teaching and non-teaching accommodation and has a direct link to raising educational standards and providing safe and secure accommodation. As part of this initial assessment, we are seeking to identify the accommodation which has the most significant impact on curriculum delivery and other school operations or where there are urgent health and safety issues. The attached sheet sets out the DfEE's categorisation of suitability and level of impact.

In order to develop these stages further, I would be grateful for your co-operation in completing and returning the information set out below by 4^th November. I recognise that elements of this information may already be known to the Authority but the intention is to ensure that all schools have a common baseline of information based on current needs and issues.

If you require general information, in the first instance please contact Simon Conner, Senior Administrative Officer (Premises) telephone 01603 222569. Alternatively telephone the specific contacts listed below.

1. Total annual energy consumption table. This is attached and we believe it to be self explanatory. Alternatively you can send a photocopy of last year's accounts and we will extract the information. Unfortunately this information is not available through Education Financial Services and your budget officer.
   Contact: Ian McDowell, Tel: 01603 222753
2. Room use and categorisation table. We provide an A4 room layout plan showing the room numbering system NPS uses. We would like you to enter these numbers into the left-hand column of the form and then add the room numbering and use in the description columns. Please amend our plan to show changed layouts corridors, large cupboards, etc, and add the other information required.
3. Site boundaries and team game playing field areas. Please use the A3 plan to mark in red your site boundaries. We also need to know the extent of your team game playing field areas.
4. On the Suitability proforma, please could you identify the accommodation which in your judgement is the most unsuitable and your highest priority for improvement. I would be grateful if you could base your judgement on the impact that the room has on the curriculum or the urgency of any health and safety issues.
   
   Contacts on (b), (c) and (d):
   Northern and Western Area Schools – John Atkins Tel: 01603 222357
   Central and South/East Schools – Simon Conner Tel: 01603 222569

Yours sincerely