CONSULTANT TO PROJECT MANAGE TEST AND LEARN PROJECTS

Purpose of this Brief a. The Bedford Arts & Cultural Education Partnership (BACE) wishes to commission suitably qualified and experienced consultant(s) to project manage the delivery of, and evaluate and report on, a series of Test & Learn projects commissioned by schools in Bedford Borough, which provide high quality arts and cultural learning opportunities for pupils.

b. The contract will be managed by University of Bedfordshire (Lead Organisation). The work is commissioned by the BACE Steering Group, who will select the successful bidder and monitor the delivery of the contract. The successful bidder will be expected to report regularly to the BACE Steering Group during the course of the contract.

c. The work must recognise BACE Year 2 Programme aims, objectives and outcomes.

2. Context a. BACE was formed in 2017 to act as the Cultural Education Partnership for Bedford Borough and deliver on the Arts Council England Cultural Education Challenge.

b. Bedford Arts and Cultural Education (BACE) is a network of leaders from the arts, culture and education sectors within Bedford Borough who have committed to work in partnership and to align resources to ensure that children and young people, who are currently underserved, have access to high quality opportunities for meaningful engagement with and learning through arts and culture.

c. The Partnership currently consists of a Steering Group made up of representatives from local early years and primary education (Bedford Nursery Schools), independent schools (The Harpur Trust), FE/HE (University of Bedfordshire), cultural providers (Bedford Creative Arts, Full House Theatre, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Bedfordshire Museum Development), and the Local Authority (Libraries & Culture, School Improvement, Bedford Music Hub).

d. BACE intends to form an Executive Board, consisting of senior leaders drawn from the education and cultural sectors, and from the Local Authority. It is envisaged that this Board will also oversee the Bedford Cultural Partnership, a group of organisations leading on the development of a Cultural Strategy for Bedford Borough.

e. BACE has completed a Year 1 Programme, a Twinning project between Bedford Borough Schools and cultural providers, with the support of Education Improvement Support Grant funding.

f. The funding for this contract and the wider work being undertaken as part of CE Year 2 Programme is from Royal Opera House Bridge Partnership Investment.

Additional information: You need to register and express an interest in the tender on the University's Procurement website: https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofbedfordshire/aspx/Home