Effective estate management

Top takeaway 

Effective estates management is vital for a safe and sustainable school environment that meets learners’ needs. The estate management competency framework is a comprehensive document that enables leaders and those working in estate management to benchmark their skills and identify areas for development. It’s built around seven functions, which are reflected in the School estate management standards. Based on the standards, you can establish whether your setting is at the baseline, transitioning, fully effective or advanced – and what you can do to progress. 

Estate management competency framework

Managing your school estate effectively will help you to save money and ensure you have a healthy, safe and sustainable school environment. 

Published in 2023, the estate management competency framework is an 83 page document (!) which gives a detailed breakdown of the responsibilities, skills and knowledge of those working in estate management. 

It’s designed to:

• Set the standards required for people working at different levels.
• Enable individuals and organisations to benchmark skills and experiences and identify gaps.
• Help people plan their professional development. 

It breaks down estate management into seven core functions:

• Strategic estate management 
• Planning and organising your estate resources
• Understanding and managing your land and buildings
• Performance management and sustainability
• Health & safety and compliance 
• Maintaining your estate 
• Managing your estate projects

And four competency levels:

• Level 1: Operative
• Level 2: Supervisor
• Level 3: Manager
• Level 4: Strategic

Each of the seven functions is further broken down into areas of responsibility, along with the skills and knowledge required to fulfil them. For example, strategic estate management is comprised of:

• Strategic approach to the way the estate is managed
• Engagement with senior leadership and governing body in the management of the estate
• Policies, strategies and action plans. 

This means the document can easily be used to audit and benchmark skills, responsibilities, and areas for development. 

For suggestions re training and qualifications to undertake, see the guidance: Training and qualifications relevant to estate management.

School estate management standards

The School Estate Management Standards are designed to support schools to manage their estates effectively. They help them to prioritise projects within their estate, build on good practice, and observe legal requirements. 

Published in April 2025, this (shorter!) document outlines the standards schools and settings can work towards in terms of estates management. 

It grades at four levels:

• Level 1 – baseline: the basic essentials that all schools and responsible bodies should have in place.
• Level 2 – transitioning: key transition points to good practice.
• Level 3 – fully effective: all the components that should be in place for schools and their responsible bodies to manage their estate effectively.
• Level 4 – advanced: additional activities schools and responsible bodies can take to become advanced practitioners.

There are statements to describe what’s entailed in meeting each level. For example, for level 3 sustainability: 

• You take a whole-school approach to combat climate change which includes carbon reduction and nature recovery. There is a nominated sustainability lead. 

For level 4 strategic management, you need to be meeting all the standards for the lower levels plus:

• The asset management plan and estate vision align with the budget management cycle.

There are links throughout to the Good estate management for schools (GEMS) manual and other relevant documentation. 

Areas for reflection and action

• Have you used the estate management competency framework in your setting? Are relevant staff aware of it, including governors and trustees? 
• Do staff with a role in estate management have a professional development plan and objectives in place? Are the competency framework and training suggestions used for this? 
• How does your setting rate against the estate management standards? Where do you think you are currently? What do you need to do to progress to the next level? 
• Do you have a strategic plan in place for estate management, linked to your setting’s improvement or development plan? 

Reading and resources

• DfE guidance: Estate management: competency framework and relevant training
• DfE guidance: School estate management standards
• DfE manual: Good estate management for schools
• Need to Know: A benchmark for sustainability practices 
• Need to Know: Digital strategy update 
• Need to Know: Do you have a climate action plan in place? 
• Need to Know: How green is your school? 
• Need to Know: What is carbon literacy?