Working Locally

Often there are times when schools purchasing goods, or getting maintenance work done, or getting some other services provided, can get a better deal from local suppliers. There are also benefits associated with being part of a large centralised system with economies of scale that enable us to negotiate goods and services that offer better value over the long term.

We want to give schools the authority to identify the best value approach for them and to make their own purchasing decisions. We also want to make it easier for schools and communities to share resources for the benefit of staff, students and the broader community.

We want to work locally so that:

• Schools have more authority to make local decisions about maintenance and purchasing, including the use of local tradespeople and businesses where they offer better value.
• Schools have more opportunities to meet their local needs by working together and combining resources (eg curriculum delivery, shared facilities, staff) within communities of schools, and across our large network of schools.