Buildings and estates can be a more challenging area for schools and trusts than it needs to be. There can be confusion about roles, fear of contractors, outdated processes and a lack of clear contractor management policies.
These issues could become a real hurdle if your school is joining a Trust or if you are expanding your existing MAT. And this is now a consideration for every school, and many leaders, following the 2026 Schools White Paper’s commitment that every school in England must belong to a Trust.
Strong, clearcut due diligence gives Trusts the clarity to grow safely and sustainably – and helps schools enter a MAT with a full understanding of their estate, responsibilities and risks.
Best practice, in practice
The aim isn’t to generate paperwork or compliance for its own sake. It’s about protecting the buildings that house children, staff and the wider community. And being unafraid to challenge and ask questions, learn and be proactive is a vital part of the process.
Here are some key areas to think about:
1. It’s not about technical expertise
Many schools or MATs believe they cannot effectively oversee estates because they aren’t electricians or fire experts. But they don’t need to be experts – they just need to effectively manage experts.
Due diligence should test if the school or Trust:
- Understands its management duty to appoint competent contractors
- Has a reliable system for verifying qualifications and evidence
- Knows how to ask the right questions
- Records decisions, checks and follow-up actions
2. Do you have an effective framework?
Many schools and Trusts inherit processes or use generic templates. The lack of a clear management framework can complicate tasks and create multiple risks.
Check:
- How estates tasks are planned, communicated and monitored
- Whether responsibilities are clearly delegated and understood
- Whether systems are proactive or simply reactive
- How information flows between leaders, site staff, business managers and contractors
- Whether building safety management is joined up and linked with your risk register
3. What’s the culture?
A school or trust may have templates and policies, but that doesn’t mean they understand or follow them.
Ask:
- Are staff curious and willing to ask questions and escalate issues when needed?
- Do they challenge contractors when things don’t seem right?
- Are they open to adopting Trust-wide systems?
- Do they understand the importance of protecting, maintaining and investing in buildings?
4. Are you working from up-to-date legislation?
Schools cannot manage what they don’t understand, and trusts cannot inherit risks they do not know exist.
Check:
- Fire safety management against current FRA expectations
- Asbestos management against current requirements
- Compliance schedules (water hygiene, gas or electrics, for example) are in line with the premises’ specific requirements
- Awareness of updates to building, fire and safety regulations
Isthar Pearce is head of health, safety and fire safety at Judicium.
