Congratulations to our client Robina Garner, School Business Manager of Mark Rutherford School in Bedford, on being shortlisted as one of three nominees for the Income Innovator of Year Award. The inaugural National School Awards Ceremony took place on Wednesday, 13 November, at the NEC in Birmingham.

The Income Innovator of Year Award, is part of the 2019 National School Awards hosted by the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) and the Schools & Academies Show. It is designed to recognise and reward individual school leaders that go beyond their duty to tackle the issue of closing the funding gap and driving significant additional revenue into their school.

Condition issues

Mark Rutherford School, as a large secondary academy, had experienced neglect during its time as a local authority school. There were many condition issues building up within their premises, including roofing issues, old boilers, windows that need replacing and an out of date fire alarm system.

According to Headteacher, Mrs Julie Bloor, Robina has managed over thirteen large capital projects in recent years totaling over £5 million. “At the time when finances are extremely fragile these projects have only come to fruition due to the additional income that has been generated. Without her tenacity and determination to provide the best possible facilities, it would be impossible to develop our learning environment in the way that we have.”

S2e secures funding

Mark Rutherford school in partnership with S2e managed to successfully bid and secure Condition Improvement Funding (CIF) to help realise funding for projects and improvements that needed to be made. Within 4 years, the school has benefited from; a heating upgrade including a new boiler, mended roofs and windows and an upgraded fire alarm system. Mark Rutherford School is now looking forward to taking the next step of a possible expansion and continuing to develop the optimum learning environment for its pupils.

Your specialist academy partner for estates strategy, surveying and funding

Surveyors to Education (S2e) is a specialist MAT and academy surveying, funding and estates planning consultancy.

At the core of our service is a deep knowledge of how to secure funding from both ESFA and non-ESFA sources, underpinned by condition surveying, to transform your academy premises and improve the learning environment for your pupils.

If you are an Academy Trust who is considering a CIF application and would like advice and support in preparing a successful bid please contact Surveyors to Education on 01530 276127 or email enquire@s2e.org.uk.