Key findings relating to the operational phase:

•  councils, pupils and teachers generally welcome the improved accommodation and levels of service that had become operational thus far;

•  there is no systematic sharing and development of staff skills and knowledge in the area of PFI schools procurement and project management;

•  councils and the private sector appear to have managed the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) effectively with due consultation with staff involved;

•  private finance initiative contractors are providing a satisfactory facilities management service;

•  deductions for service failures in the first year of operation were low, at 0.2 per cent of the total value of payments;

•  cleaning services are equivalent in standard to the service delivered before PFI; and

•  once contract terms have been agreed, the arrangements tend to promote a collaborative approach to problem solving rather than an adversarial relationship.