Updates: Buying for schools: how to buy what you need
2025
Added information on the Procurement Act 2023 including how to get free training on the act and how to register on the central digital platform.
Get training on the Procurement Act 2023
Added information on how to access free, approved DfE training on the Procurement Act 2023 and how to register on the central digital platform.
Added information on the Procurement Act 2023 including how to get free training on the act and how to register on the central digital platform.
Added information on the Procurement Act 2023 including how to get free training on the new act and how to register on the central digital platform.
Route 1: use a framework agreement
Added information on the Procurement Act 2023 including how to get free training on the act and how to register on the central digital platform.
Route 2: use catalogues to find low value goods
Added information on the Procurement Act 2023 including how to get free training on the act and how to register on the central digital platform.
Route 3: get at least 3 quotes from suppliers for low or medium value purchases
Added information on the Procurement Act 2023 including how to get free training on the act and how to register on the central digital platform.
Added information on the Procurement Act 2023 including how to get free training on the act and how to register on the central digital platform.
Route 5: run a process compliant with the Procurement Act 2023 for high value purchases
Added an overview of the new process. Also added information on the Procurement Act 2023 including how to get free training on the act and how to register on the central digital platform.
Writing and managing a contract
Added information on the Procurement Act 2023 including how to get free training on the act and how to register on the central digital platform.
Added information on the Procurement Act 2023 including how to get free training on the act and how to register on the central digital platform.
How to manage your fixed assets
Added information relating to the Procurement Act 2023 including how to get free training on the act and how to register on the central digital platform.
2024
Writing and managing a contract
Updated to include details of the new Department for Education approved contract training course available to schools and multi-academy trusts.
Route 2: use catalogues to find low value goods
Updated ESPO procurement product catalogue information with new pricing information for 2024 to 2025.
2023
The threshold values in route 5 have been updated.
Route 2: use catalogues to find low value goods
New section added.
Route 3: get at least 3 quotes from suppliers for low or medium value purchases
Renumbered to add a new route to use catalogues to find low value goods.
Renumbered to add a new route to use catalogues to find low value goods.
Renumbered to add a new route to use catalogues to find low value goods.
Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.
Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.
Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.
Route 1: use a framework agreement
Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.
Route 2: get at least 3 quotes from suppliers for low or medium value purchases
Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.
Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.
Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.
2022
Updated to reflect the legal and regulatory changes that schools need to conform to in order to remain legally compliant in their purchasing.
Buying high-value things under the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) procurement threshold
Updated to reflect the legal and regulatory changes that schools need to conform to in order to remain legally compliant in their purchasing.
Buying things that are over the procurement threshold
Updated to reflect the legal and regulatory changes that schools need to conform to in order to remain legally compliant in their purchasing.
2021
Added a link to the new tool to create a specification for buying catering services or multi-functional devices.
Updated the information on when to buy using a framework to include information about how frameworks are selected.
Buying things that are over the procurement threshold
Replaced links to an EU procurement portal with a UK procurement portal.
2020
Updated to reflect the latest OJEU thresholds.
2019
New section added.
New section added.
Select a supplier direct from a framework agreement
New section added.
New section added.
Buying low to medium cost things
New section added.
Buying high-value things under the EU procurement threshold
New section added.
Buying things that are over the EU procurement threshold
New section added.
New section added.
How to manage your fixed assets
New section added.
Writing contracts and managing a contract
New section added.