With thousands of school buildings across England in urgent need of repair or replacement, there is a growing case for using private investment to help renew the education estate.
A new article from law firm Browne Jacobson highlights the potential for modern public-private partnerships (PPPs) to address the challenge, drawing on lessons from previous financing models.
The scale of the problem is considerable. The National Audit Office identified 24,000 school buildings that had passed their original estimated design life in 2023, while school budgets remain under enormous pressure.
Other countries, including Canada and Australia, have continued to develop modern PPP models, while Scotland and Wales have also used alternative private financing approaches to deliver public infrastructure. England, by contrast, has largely failed to develop a replacement for PFI since 2018.
As Browne Jacobson argues, modern partnerships must learn from the past, with greater flexibility, appropriate risk sharing and a stronger focus on long-term maintenance and educational outcomes.
There is also an opportunity to bring together projects across multiple schools or academy trusts, creating a pipeline of investment opportunities that could attract institutional capital at scale.
For AIIP, the message is clear. Private finance can help accelerate the renewal of England's school estate, while ensuring buildings are properly maintained and remain fit for purpose throughout their operational lives.
With public finances stretched and the need for investment growing, the Government should consider how modern PPPs can play a greater role in delivering the schools that pupils and teachers deserve.