Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Not Addressed
Consider supporting local authorities to ensure high-quality places when reducing local school provision.
Conclusion
It is unclear whether decisions concerned with addressing the condition of the estate are coordinated with those relating to the need for school places. Historically, there have been instances of school closures just before another demographic wave of children that means more school places have to be created. More recently, in some areas—for example, London—we have seen diminishing school rolls which raises the question of potential closures. Both situations may complicate decisions about which schools to maintain or refurbish. There is no requirement for responsible bodies to work together to, for example, consider possible closures or amalgamations of schools on borough boundaries to ensure the most efficient option is chosen. Given the recognised autonomy of responsible bodies, DfE’s regional directors do not typically play a strong role in school closure decisions, but they engage with schools and other bodies to discuss such issues. From a departmental perspective, when considering School Rebuilding Programme applications, DfE checks the forecast pupil numbers to ensure that the school merits a full rebuild. Ideally, DfE The condition of school buildings 9 would like more school places than there are children, to support parental choice in the system. In some places, sites no longer needed for primary schools might be re-purposed to provide more childcare and early years provision, or opportunities for more special and alternative provision. Recommendation 10: DfE should consider how local authorities can best be supported, and put in place the necessary measures, to ensure that the need for high quality places across the estate is considered when decisions are taken on reducing school places locally. 10 The condition of school buildings 1 Building safety issues in schools
Government Response Summary
The government response addresses unrelated conclusions and recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee regarding the Health Transformation Programme and disability benefits, failing to address the recommendation concerning school places and estate management by the DfE.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
1. PAC conclusion: The success of the Health Transformation Programme depends on the Department’s ability to genuinely transform the experience people have when applying for disability benefits. 1.1 The government notes the Committee’s conclusion. 2. PAC conclusion: There is a risk that the Department will deliver a new service without the important improvements to claimant’s experience. 2. PAC recommendation: The Department should publish a revised business case, no later than spring 2024, with details on how its desired transformation of the health assessments for disability benefits will result in the promised benefits for claimants and how it will track and assess progress towards this. 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2024 2.2 The Department for Work and Pensions (the department) is updating the Health Transformation Programme (HTP) business case, based on the approved Programme scope at November 2023. This business case is based on delivery of the HTP in line with the current programme plan, as well as the costs and benefits of the transformed Personal Independence Payments (PIP) end-to-end journey, including Apply for PIP. 2.3 The Programme’s benefits, as outlined in the business case, will be tracked by the department using a combination of administrative data analysis, and both qualitative and quantitative research, as set out in the Programme’s Evaluation Strategy (published in May 2023). 2.4 The d