Compliance visibility
Track condition, maintenance, asbestos, fire, water safety, statutory inspections and remedial actions.
EDUCATION CONSULTANCY / ESTATES
Make your school estate safer, more efficient and more valuable to the community.
Combine estate assurance, facilities performance and responsible lettings growth.
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School Estates, Facilities & Lettings
COOs, estates directors, school business leaders and trust executives. We focus on practical advice, clear accountability and proportionate assurance.
Facilities performance
Review cleaning, utilities, contracts, space use and planned preventative maintenance.
Community lettings
Assess pricing, booking, safeguarding, access, insurance, staffing and net contribution.
DfE standards & assurance
Requirements, audits and useful reviews
A required statutory audit or inspection is different from a recommended management review. Applicability depends on the trust, buildings, systems and activity. The 2026 Academy Trust Handbook is effective from 1 October 2026.
Required checks
Applicable statutory inspections and risk assessments; fire safety, asbestos and other building compliance duties based on site characteristics.
DfE reporting and good practice
School estate management standards annual return where applicable; estate self-assessment and compliance tracker as useful management tools.
Recommended consultancy review
Lettings profitability and safeguarding-interface audit, site utilisation study and estate compliance gap analysis.
Official guidance
How an engagement works
01 · Discover
Understand the trust structure, objectives, current assurance and key constraints.
02 · Review
Examine documents, interviews, data and evidence against the agreed scope.
03 · Improve
Present a prioritised action plan, ownership, timescales and optional implementation support.
Frequently asked questions: school estates, facilities and lettings
Practical answers for academy trust leaders. Check current DfE guidance and obtain professional advice for trust-specific decisions.
What statutory building checks apply to school estates?
Requirements depend on the buildings and activities but can include fire risk assessment, asbestos management, water hygiene, electrical and gas safety, and other inspections. A competent specialist should confirm site-specific duties.
Is a school estate condition survey mandatory every year?
There is no universal requirement for an identical annual condition survey at every school. Responsible bodies should maintain reliable condition information and risk-based maintenance plans.
What is the DfE estate management standards annual return?
It is a DfE reporting process for eligible responsible bodies. Check current scope, evidence requirements and deadlines directly with the DfE.
What should a school lettings policy include?
It should cover eligibility, booking conditions, pricing, safeguarding, insurance, site access, cancellation, staffing, cleaning, incident reporting and decision-making authority.
What safeguarding checks apply to external hirers?
Arrangements depend on the activity and whether children attend. Schools should assess safeguarding responsibilities, relevant policies, supervision and contractual safeguards rather than assuming one blanket DBS rule.
How do schools calculate lettings profitability?
Subtract incremental staffing, cleaning, utilities, maintenance, administration, insurance and other relevant costs from realistic booking income. Test occupancy and pricing assumptions.
Should a trust charge the same lettings rate at every site?
Not necessarily. Prices may reflect facility quality, local demand, direct costs, community priorities and approved trust policy.
Can schools let facilities outside normal hours?
Often yes, subject to premises rights, trust approvals, safeguarding, access arrangements, insurance, health and safety and any relevant restrictions.
How should estate maintenance be prioritised?
Prioritise life safety and statutory compliance, then operational resilience, building condition, accessibility, energy performance and affordability.
What should an estate compliance register record?
Asset or site, requirement, last inspection, next due date, evidence location, owner, defects, remediation and escalation status.
Is a lettings income audit mandatory?
A standalone commercial lettings audit is not universally required. A targeted review can test financial controls, safeguarding arrangements and net contribution.
How can schools improve community use without compromising education?
Use clear access rules, fair pricing, community consultation, safeguarding controls and a timetable that protects the school day.