News

PFI Endgame: DfE steps in to ensure school handovers go to plan

The Department for Education has launched a new unit to help transfer the first private finance initiative (PFI) schools...

Tom Belger
Tom Belger
News

Ormiston Academies Trust got £1.1m government loan

One of the country’s largest multi-academy trusts was lent more than £1 million by the government to help “cash...

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Rescue schools tied to ‘toxic’ PFI contracts, Hammond told

The government will no longer use private financial initiatives (PFI) to fund future school-building projects – but is facing...

John Dickens
John Dickens
News

WCAT school left without sponsor over £1 million-a-year PFI contract

A private finance initiative contract costing more than £1 million a year has stopped one of the last schools...

Jess Staufenberg
Jess Staufenberg
News

United Learning boss rules out taking costly PFI schools ‘ever again’

One of the largest academy chains in England has refused to take on any new schools with costly PFI...

Jess Staufenberg
Jess Staufenberg
News

Public accounts committee chair slams ‘exorbitantly expensive’ PFI contracts

The chair of the parliamentary public accounts committee Meg Hillier has spoken out against costly private finance initiative contracts...

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Academy facing ‘crippling’ £21 million PFI costs will now close

A struggling academy facing “crippling” PFI repayments of £21 million will now close, it has been confirmed. Schools Week...

John Dickens
John Dickens
News

Academy facing closure over ‘crippling’ £21 million PFI costs

A struggling academy is facing closure because of “crippling” PFI repayments – with the council set to pick up...

John Dickens
John Dickens
News

Norfolk council rakes in £500,000 from academy conversion fees

Schools in Norfolk have paid more than £500,000 in “conversion costs” to their local authority to become academies, Schools...

Jess Staufenberg
Jess Staufenberg