The Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) remains in its infancy but indications from early schemes we are advising on suggest recipients of PSBP funding may be encouraged to group together under a lead school. The lead may assume some responsibility for negotiations and discussions of, and advice on, the legal documents - feeding back concerns of the group to the Education Funding Agency (EFA).
This might represent a useful streamlining of the process, reducing the number and diversity of comments raised. However, it could be a significant responsibility, with other members of the group investing a great deal of confidence in the lead to protect their interests and reflect any issues specific to particular schools.
In time, a simple form of collaboration agreement might be needed. For now, PSBP schools should, at the very least, make contact with those in their local scheme - relationships built early on could put these schools ahead of the game when the procurement starts in earnest.