Procurement for School Trusts

This CST masterclass explores the key concepts and core principles of successful procurement for school trusts. It considers how to take a strategic approach to procurement and how best to achieve value for money. The course profiles the regulatory environment and the legal requirements for public procurement, whilst focusing on achieving outcomes and service delivery from suppliers. 

What should trustees and senior school leaders know about procurement?

• Procurement is not just about cost control. Sound governance and a strategic approach to procurement can deliver huge benefits to children and the integrated communities that schools are such an important part of. Procurement is far reaching and significant with UK schools collectively spending approximately £9.2billion on areas including energy, catering, IT, agency staff, supply teachers and outsourced back-office functions. These areas of spend have a massive bearing on school operations, the overall quality of teaching and pupil welfare. This is why procurement and supplier management are so important to the success of school trusts.  There are vast benefits to getting procurement right but there are many pitfalls and difficulties.

Who is it for?

• Chief executives and trust leaders
• Chairs and trustees
• Governance professionals
• How you will benefit

You will gain:

• An understanding of the role procurement plays in trust success
• Information about the tasks, roles and processes needed to effectively management contracts
• An understanding of risk areas and contracts requiring additional attention
• Knowledge of the key risks at each stage of the procurement lifestyle
• Insight into the key roles and areas of responsibility
• Confidence to focus limited resources where they will have most effect

Course outline
Session one
The big picture: The role procurement plays in the success of your schools

• Why does procurement matter?
• What are the critical factors you need to get right?
• Broader benefits from procurement
• Introducing the Procurement Act 2023
• Accountability and value for public money: What are the regulatory frameworks trusts must work within, including the impact of legal changes
• Key definitions and structure of the Act

Session two
Developing a strategic approach to procurement that works for your trust

• Procurement routes and options open to trusts
• Mapping out your trust needs: how to develop a holistic view of the goods and services, and types of spend your trust will deal with (depending on size)
• Understanding when and how to seek professional advice and support
• What does an effective procurement policy look like: who is it for, who oversees its implementation and monitors its ongoing impact against stated needs and aims
• Controls: the roles of key executive staff and trustees/committees

Session three
The procurement cycle under the Procurement Act 2023

• Definition, exemptions and terminology
• Notices and information that must be published
• Time limits
• Contract award notices and assessment summaries
•  Modifying public contracts
• Remedies, oversight, debarment and exclusion
• Creating, implementing, monitoring your procurement strategy
• Practical steps