Hazel Coates from Corporate Services and Transformation at Derbyshire County Council, shares how her local authority realised greater benefits for schools and saved over £600,000 by switching to RPA.
Reasons for changeFor years, Derbyshire County Council provided insurance cover for around 450 schools through a pooled approach. This system worked well by combining all schools together, the Council could negotiate better rates and give every school comprehensive protection, even if some didn't need all the cover included.
However, as more schools became academies over the years, the pool shrank from 450 schools to around 250.
With fewer schools contributing to the insurance fund, competition from the DfEs Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA) – the departments alternative to commercial insurance, and the rising cost and complexity of cyber cover meant the Council could no longer offer the same value.
When Derbyshire County Council compared their existing school insurance with the RPA, it wasn't just comparable, it was actually better in key areas, especially for cyber protection and at a significantly lower cost per pupil.
This led to a clear decision: all remaining council-maintained schools in Derbyshire would transition to the RPA.
Keys to success Clear communication - the council consulted extensively with the Schools Forum and provided detailed comparisons of costs and coverage through webinars and online resources. Identify gaps early – the council identified services not covered by the RPA (engineering inspections and motor insurance) and helped schools arrange alternative provision Transition support – schools remained on the council's engineering policy until June 2025, giving them time to make alternative arrangementsSchools particularly valued how both the council and DfE handled the administrative burden. Rather than each school navigating complex insurance changes individually, they managed the work together , including bulk enrolment, registering all schools in one go.
The result has been overwhelmingly positive feedback from schools about what proved to be a largely seamless transition. Schools could focus on educating children while benefiting from insurance that's both comprehensive and cost-effective.
Benefits for our schoolsTransition to the RPA offers several significant advantages for Derbyshire schools:
cost savings - the overall savings to schools of £13 per pupil reflects a saving of approximately £619,000 based on the number of pupils the Council insured in 2024/2025 cover designed specifically for schools rather than the council’s broader estate policy better cover in some areas - particularly including travel and cyber protection simplified claims process - schools now deal directly with a system built for educational settings Wider benefitsThe move to the RPA has allowed the Council to redirect resources previously used to subsidise school insurance towards delivering its other major statutory responsibilities for adult and children’s social care, highways and public health.
Transferring schools to the RPA has enabled the Council to substantially reduce the cost of its insurance premiums and to halve its insurance excess for property.
Importantly, Derbyshire County Council maintains its responsibility towards education and continues to work with schools on various aspects of risk management. For example, during severe weather events or flooding, the Council will still work collaboratively with schools, the Environment Agency, and other stakeholders to provide support, regardless of whether they're RPA members.
Its role has simply shifted from being the insurance provider to being a partner in risk mitigation and support.
In summary, the transition to the RPA has been a positive experience for both Derbyshire schools and the Council, made significantly easier by the excellent support provided by the DfE.
The move reflects the Council’s commitment to finding the best value and most appropriate solutions for our schools, even when that means stepping back from services it traditionally provided.
Act nowThis was purely a ‘business decision’. The Council always prides itself on the service it gives to schools, and which is highly valued by them. It’s about ensuring our schools have access to the most cost-effective and suitable arrangements in an ever-changing educational landscape.
If your local authority hasn't yet explored the RPA, start conversations now. The potential savings and improved coverage could significantly benefit your school's budget and protection.
The RPA represents a sustainable, cost-effective approach to school insurance that benefits both schools and local authorities.
Any savings, benefits and outcomes described in this blog were provided by Derbyshire County Council and reflect its specific experience and circumstances. Individual results will vary between schools and trusts.
seen at 14:38, 15 October in Maximising Value for Pupils (Max VP).