Glossary

The Building Schools for the Future programme uses a wide range of specific building, construction and education terms.

Acronym Name Notes
4Ps Public Private Partnerships Programme A local government procurement agency providing project support and independent advice to local authorities
ASD Autistic Spectrum Disorder
BSF Building Schools for the Future DCSF programme to radically improve all secondary provision over the next 10-15 years
CAF Common Assessment Framework The CAF is a standardised approach to carrying out an assessment of a child's additional needs and deciding how those needs should be met
CAHMS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
CD Competitive dialogue The EU prescribed procurement process most suitable for BSF
CYPP Children and Young People Plan Oldham Children’s Trust’s strategic plan to improve services for children and young people in the borough
CLD/CLN Complex learning difficulties/needs
D&B Design and build A specific contract type to design and build a project
DBOM Design, build, operate and maintain A specific contract type to design and build a project, and then to maintain it and provide facilities management services for the life of the contract period.
DCSF Department for Children, Schools and Families Government Department responsible for Children’s services
ECM Every Child Matters A national strategy from the Government to improve the lives of all children and young people
FBC Final Business Case This is the definitive option appraisal process for each individual phase and is agreed by the DCSF prior to the signing of contracts to deliver the project (see OBC).
FE Further education Post secondary education
FM Facilities management A range of support services: security, caretaking, cleaning, maintenance, etc
GCSE General Certificate of Secondary Education A qualification that young people work towards in secondary school
HE Higher education Education provided by a college or university
HMR Housing Market Renewal A programme to improve homes and neighbourhoods
ICS Integrated children’s services Bringing together services for children and young people from different organisations
ICT Information communication technology
ITPD Invitation to participate in dialogue The first stage of the competitive dialogue process following the pre-qualification stage
ITCD Invitation to continued dialogue The dialogue stage of the competitive dialogue process of the selection of the client list
ITSFB Invitation to submit final bids The end of the dialogue phase of the CD process when final bids are invited
KS Key stage The stage of a pupil’s progress through school
LA Local authority Oldham Council
LAA Local Area Agreement An agreement between the council and central government
LEP Local Education Partnership A company limited by shares and established through a joint venture via a shareholders agreement between the LA (10%), PfS (10%) and the PSP (80%) established to develop, manage and deliver the local BSF programme
LSC Learning and Skills Council The Learning and Skills Council exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. Is responsible for planning and funding high quality education and training for everyone in England other than those in universities
LSCB Local Safeguarding Children Board A multi-agency group responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in Oldham
NEET Not in employment, education or training Young people who are not employed, in education or training
NHS National Health Service The publicly funded health care system in the UK
NOR Number on roll Number of pupils attending a school
OBC Outline Business Case An Option Appraisal process for each individual phase.  It will for example validate assumptions about replacement/refurbishment and use of PFI/conventional funding, etc.  The OBC must be submitted to the DCSF (PRG) for approval before further developing the project.
OJEU A notice in the Official A notice seeking applications from companies
Notice A notice in the Official  Journal of the European Union A notice seeking applications from companies (or consortia) to become the Private Sector Partner to deliver the local BSF programme
OP Oldham Partnership The borough’s Local Strategic Partnership
PD Physical disability
PFI Private Finance Initiative A mechanism that uses private finance and expertise to implement public sector projects
PfS Partnerships for Schools Non-departmental public body wholly owned by the DCSF but jointly managed and resourced by DCSF and PUK to support the development and implementation of the national BSF programme
PID Project Initiation Document An initial framework document which sets out a projects vision, its scope and scale, stakeholder and user consultation and governance arrangements.
PIN Prior Information Notice A public notice which precedes the full Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) notice and sets out the scope of the local authority’s (LA’s) requirements
PPP Public private partnership A general term for any partnership venture between the public and private sectors.
PQQ Pre-qualification questionnaire An initial expression of interest from a prospective Private sector partner (PSP) used by the local authority (LA) to draw up a long-list of potential partners.
PB Preferred bidder The company we want for a LEP partner, before we have signed a final agreement
Phase Period of time in which a particular group of schools will be built
Phasing Stages of construction of a particular school
PRU Pupil Referral Unit A centre for children who are not able to attend a mainstream or special school
PSP Private sector partner A company or consortium of companies selected under European Union (EU) procurement rules to deliver the local BSF programme
PUK Partnerships UK Joint Venture Company established by the Government to accelerate the development, procurement and implementation of public/private partnerships
RC Roman Catholic
SEBD Social, emotional and behavioural difficulties
SEN Special educational needs
SENCO Special Educational Needs Coordinator
SfC Strategy for Change Is the starting point for consultation with stakeholders and for defining the scope of a BSF project.  Partnerships for Schools will challenge LAs to ensure their education vision or SfC is appropriately robust and meets the expectations of DCSF
SHA Shareholders agreement Agreement of covering the roles and responsibilities of the parties for the LEP
SLD Severe learning difficulties
SME Small and medium enterprises Small and medium businesses
SPA Strategic Partnering Agreement A agreement signed between the LA and the LEP setting out the services required of the LEP and the arrangements for agreeing and approving of new projects beyond phase 1
SPB Strategic Partnership Board A formal group of local stakeholders with specific interests in secondary provision, LA, LSC, School Governors, etc
SPV Special purpose vehicle A consortium of companies (for example construction, ICT, finance and facilities management) set up to deliver specific projects – particularly PFI projects
VA Voluntary aided