SMART PROCUREMENT STRATEGIES
new flexibility enables them to place greater emphasis on the public benefits a contract can deliver to the surrounding community of the school.
For schools wanting to improve their social value, the Act provides an effective pathway. The focus on social value means that when procuring goods or services, such as catering supplies or maintenance works, schools can now utilise local suppliers and those that prioritise reducing their environmental impacts. This supports local economies and can reduce the carbon footprint of supply chains. By engaging with suppliers who are part of the community, schools and MATs can align their procurement with their educational and social objectives.
Maximising budgets through consolidated and compliant purchasing In a time of tight school budgets, the Procurement Act 2023 provides a new way for educators to generate greater value. One of the most effective ways schools can save money is through consolidated purchasing, meaning they can purchase different items from a single supplier or framework. This approach helps schools get better deals and discounts, because they are buying in larger quantities. It also greatly reduces the time and effort spent by school staff on ordering and paying for items from many different suppliers, which frees up time and resource.
Upgrading digital infrastructure for modern teaching
Moving away from legislation, investing in digital technology is a key part of modern education provision, from classroom tools to online learning resources. To support this, schools are focusing on upgrading their digital infrastructure, which includes everything from Wi-Fi networks to cloud storage and devices such as laptops and tablets.
Purchasing organisations create specialised procurement frameworks to help educators buy the contemporary digital technology they need compliantly. For instance, the “Cloud services, AI, data centre management and transformation solutions” framework from YPO is a way for schools to access services for cloud hosting and IT infrastructure with
27 suppliers registered. These frameworks are designed to help schools get the best value possible and stay compliant, while also providing access to a range of different potential suppliers.
In addition to cloud services, these frameworks can cover other products for learning, including IT equipment such as laptops and printers, as well as resources for subjects in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM). This means schools can use a single, pre-approved framework to get a variety of technology for their classrooms, including tools like robotics kits that can help students learn about coding and engineering practically. These frameworks can then be updated to make sure they include modern equipment as new products come to market.
Procurement for SEND
Procurement for SEND expenditure is a critical area for the education sector. Despite a projected £1 billion increase in funding for 2025, the current system remains under considerable financial pressure. While procurement frameworks serve to streamline processes, a substantial estimated funding gap highlights the necessity for a strategic approach to procurement in this field and systemic revisions of what is needed to
ensure adequate support for all children. Taking this into consideration, YPO’s “Special Educational Needs Support” category lists 222 distinct products, but with groups of products categorised to match specific needs. Buying organisations can also offer consultancy and guidance for schools or MATs needing support, linking spending to what demands education providers are meeting.
Addressing RAAC
Over the summer break and into the 2025- 2026 academic year, many schools and multi- academy trusts are completing important structural upgrades, such as roof and window replacements, boiler upgrades and the installation of new classrooms. A major part of this work across the UK sadly involves addressing Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). As of late 2024 and early 2025, reports surfaced that around 235 schools and colleges around the UK still have confirmed RAAC, making it a critical consideration for headteachers and governing bodies to address. Whilst the government has committed to funding long- term remediation projects for RAAC through the School Rebuilding Programme, there is still a need for schools to budget carefully for additional costs required to make critical repairs.
Room for opportunity through procurement
Whether its new IT equipment, SEND school supplies, catering or building maintenance, the summer break provides a crucial window to consider what needs to be bought, from who and when. By understanding the procurement landscape, schools can equip themselves with the right tools to make choices which benefit the environment and their communities. As schools prepare for a new term, using these terms will be a key part of smart, long-term planning to guarantee they have the right resources to give students the best possible education.
September 2025
www.education-today.co.uk 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
