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The government’s schools capital agency has boosted the value of its new schools capital framework to £4bn, but has cut the number of contractors to be appointed by a quarter.

The Education Funding Agency this week published its contract notice for its two new contractors frameworks, with the agency seeking nine contractors for two frameworks - one for the north of England and one for the south.

This compares to the 12 contractors that have been placed on the current frameworks, which expire in November.

Each framework - Sector North and Sector South - is worth up to £2bn each and will run for four years.

Last month the EFA said

Sector North will cover the North-west of England, the North-east, Yorkshire and Humber, the East Midlands and the West Midlands. Sector South covers the East of England, the South-east, the South-west and London.

The EFA said it expected to invite around 13 contractors to bid for a place on each framework.

The successful contractors are expected to be in place and bidding for work from December.

This framework is for the delivery of free schools, academies, university technical colleges, sixth form colleges, further education colleges and other educational facilities.

But the EFA said it could also include other wider educational and community facilities, such as early years centres, as well as libraries and health facilities, particularly when these are collocated with schools.