Don’t neglect pipework for RAAC fearmongering
Aging mechanical pipework poses a greater risk to school closures than RAAC. Without urgent funding, heating failures could disrupt learning nationwide.
Schools instructed to find sustainability lead for 2025
Learn why schools need sustainability leads and climate action plans by 2025 to support decarbonisation, Net Zero goals, and modernising school estates.
Guide to school renovation projects
School renovations provide better facilities, creating opportunities for staff and students while improving pupil engagement, behavior, and attainment.
How to make a successful CIF bid
Given the strained finances of many schools and academies, the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) can play a vital part in balancing budgets and improving the condition and maintenance of your school estate.
Understanding building surveys for schools and academies
Building surveys are a crucial part of the management and maintenance of schools and academies. They help you develop an in-depth understanding of the condition and performance of your estate so you can identify the changes you can make, prioritise maintenance issues and rank deficiencies.
What is the School Condition Allocation (SCA)?
Every year, the Department for Education gives money to schools to help them maintain and improve the condition of their grounds and buildings. There are two funds for this purpose: the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) and the School Condition Allocation (SCA).
What is a school climate action plan?
Schools, colleges and academies play a vital part in creating the environmental stewards of tomorrow. But educational facilities are not only responsible for informing the attitudes and behaviours of their students. They also have a more practical role to play.
The importance of external valuations for schools and multi-academy trusts
Updates in the Academies Accounts Direction (AAD) 2024 now emphasises the use of independent external valuations.
Phase 4 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
Phase 4 of the PSDS scheme includes several key updates and modifications aimed at making the application process more efficient.
What are the benefits of an energy efficiency audit?
With energy bills rising, schools need more efficient buildings. This article covers the benefits of energy audits, what they involve, and whether funding is available.
Guide to RICS Red Book valuations for education estates
Schools often require formal valuation of their education estates and assets. Discover how RICS Red Book valuations support informed decisions about your assets.
What is a condition survey? Advice for schools and academies
Building condition surveys are a valuable tool for schools and academies that enables them to better understand their estates and maximise the value they get from their maintenance budget.
What are the benefits of project management during school construction?
A comprehensive estate maintenance plan is vital to keeping school buildings in good condition. But buildings still age and reach a point where refurbishment and modernisation projects are essential.
Education estate maintenance planning: an essential guide
Here we discuss what estate maintenance planning is, what a good maintenance strategy includes, and the information you need to put an effective plan in place.
How to plan a decarbonisation strategy for your estate
What is a decarbonisation strategy, how do you create one for your school estate, and can you fund it via the Public Sector Secarbonisation Scheme (PSDS)?
Managing operational costs in education
With the operational costs associated with educational buildings, and estates on the rise, we discuss the steps you can take to manage and reduce them.
Illuminating the Future: Benefits of Solar Panels for UK Schools and Academies
As the call for sustainable practices intensifies, schools across the UK are stepping into a greener future by embracing solar energy.
How schools, academies and MATs can create ESG & sustainability strategies
ESG is a framework used to measure and evaluate an organisation’s wider impact on society and the environment, as well as its internal management and leadership.
How to improve energy efficiency in schools and academies
Energy efficiency means using less energy to complete a task while achieving the same result. For example, an energy-efficient building requires less energy for heating to maintain a comfortable temperature.
How to unlock government grants for academies, schools, and MATs
Every year the Department for Education (DfE) allocates funding to help eligible schools maintain and improve their buildings.
Building condition surveys
Maintaining and upgrading educational facilities is crucial for providing a conducive learning environment. One instrumental tool in this process is a Building Condition Survey.
What impact do school buildings have on learning outcomes?
We discuss how academic building design affects student performance and explore the steps you can take to build with learning outcomes in mind.
Estate management planning for schools – why is it so important?
Find out what estate management planning for schools is, how it can help you achieve your goals and what you can do to put a plan in place.
T-Level Capital Funding: Everything you need to know
Everything prospective T-Level providers need to know about T-Level Capital Funding, from the type and value of funding available to how you can apply.