Expert advisors can help Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) make best use of resources to improve their buildings and better manage their estates, according to a Department for Education pilot programme hailed a significant success.

Under the Capital Advisers Programme (CAP), experts such as qualified chartered surveyors or building services engineers were allocated to 20 MATs to help them:

• make more efficient spending decisions

• improve building safety and

• better manage their accountability and statutory responsibilities for their school estate.

The results showed that using such experts can really help MATs understand the condition of their buildings, which is fundamental to prioritising spending and managing estates to improve pupil outcomes.

Bringing in experts could increase alignment with the government’s recommended good practice for estate management (as set out in GEMS) from 61% to 92%, the study showed.

It revealed substantial need for professional help:

• Only two of the 20 MATs had an estates strategy aligned to their estate vision.

• And only 20% had an up-to-date (within the previous five years) condition survey for each of their schools.

What is the CAP programme?

In the words of the DfE: “The CAP pilot is part of the department’s aim to deliver world-class outcomes for children through excellent estate management. A school building is more than just a building. It is a system that supports teaching and learning, helping to build the future of our next generation.”

But many trusts, as they grow and expand, are new to managing their own estates and receiving and managing capital funding such as School Condition Allocations (SCA).

The DfE wanted to ensure public funding is well spent after allocating over £13 billion since 2015 for improving the condition of school buildings, including £1.8 billion committed for financial year 2022-23, and continuing to fund projects through the School Rebuilding Programme to replace buildings in the poorest condition.

The pilot therefore ran from March to July 2021 and evaluated whether, and in what circumstance, an assessment by capital advisers could improve how MATs strategically manage their estates and make the best use of their SCA.

Significant support

The pilot explored the need for tailored advice on strategic estate management and capital spending and concluded that involvement with CAP did result in MATs improving their processes.

The outcome of the pilot generated learning about how capital advisers could be deployed more widely and CAP will be expanded in the 2022/23 academic year as it demonstrated “significant potential to support schools”.

Feedback included: “Very satisfied with the adviser allocated to our trust...was professional, helpful and appreciative of the challenges I face as a newly appointed estates director.”

Smaller trusts may also benefit just from the notion that they are supported, as one reported: “I think just having someone who understands capital projects/ buildings management to bounce ideas off was the most benefit. It’s a lonely job sometimes and you just get such a lot of reassurance from discussions about what you are actually doing right.”

CAP follows a programme launched in 2017 that saw School Resource Management Advisers (sector experts such as school business professionals working collaboratively with schools and trusts) identify total potential savings of £303 million in around 1,000 establishments over three years.

As a team or RICS qualified Chartered Building Surveyors working only in education, the directors of S2e are specialists in forming estate strategies and helping MATs and academies obtain funding and prioritise spending.

We can also make sure your knowledge of the condition of your estate is up to date by carrying out condition surveys which was identified as a key requirement in the pilot CAP findings.

For more information please get in touch by on 0116 5070130 or email enquire@s2e.org.uk.