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Having a Good Estate Management plan in place is critical for any school or educational establishment. The core function of effective management of resources includes the school estate, the buildings, and the grounds.
WHAT IS GOOD ESTATE MANAGEMENT (GEMS)?
Good estate management is essential to creating a safe, warm, and compliant educational environment. Statutory compliance checks such as asbestos management, fire risk assessments, and statutory insurance inspections should be routinely done, and any failures must be addressed quickly.
Underfunding of estates can lead to the breakdown of mechanical and electrical services which will ultimately lead to school closures. Therefore, adequate funding should be provided for building maintenance in order to prevent these types of situations from occurring.
Creating and implementing an effective estate management strategy can help maintain your property and resources, while keeping safety top of mind. As specialist Academy Consultants we can partner with academies to manage their estate and make sure they achieve best value for money.
DEFINING OBJECTIVES FOR YOUR ESTATE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Before implementing an estate management plan, we must first identify your objectives. Identifying the purpose and goals of your plan is essential to ensure that it meets the needs of your school in the most effective way possible. For example, do you need to improve security measures? Increase efficiency? Minimize costs? Once we’ve identified these goals, we can provide strategies to reach them.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CURRENT ESTATE CONDITION AND NEEDS
To create an effective estate management plan, we must first gain a thorough understanding of your current estate condition and needs. Starting by taking a walk around your school grounds, we will conduct a detailed condition survey to note of any areas that need improvement or updates in terms of safety and security, such as repairing broken fences or outdated locks. Take stock of the physical condition of buildings and other structures, identify necessary repairs and renovations, and consider potential upgrades to better serve the needs of both staff and students. This information will help us create a comprehensive plan that meets all these needs while also meeting budgetary requirements.
ANALYSING POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL PLAN
Once we have a clear understanding of the condition of the school buildings, grounds, and other facilities, it’s time to start considering how to fund your estate management plan.
We can analyse potential funding sources, grants and schemes such as School Condition Allocation Funding (SCA), Condition Improvement Funding (CIF) and The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) that are specifically geared towards educational establishments. Working with an academy funding specialist, we have a wealth of experience and knowledge with the funding processes, guidelines, and any requirements to ensure your plan meets all necessary criteria. We can also create a plan for regular maintenance and upkeep so that any necessary improvements can be completed in a timely manner.
ASSESING POTENTIAL RISKS AND DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE THEM
It’s important to assess potential risks when creating an estate management plan for a school. This includes hazards that could impact student safety and learning, as well as financial liabilities associated with property maintenance and repair. Developing a strategy for mitigating risks such as performing regular maintenance on equipment and facilities, investing in safety measures like fire detectors and security systems, and implementing policies to protect staff and students. Additionally, considering ways to limit environmental contaminants or reduce energy usage to save costs over the long term.
For help and advice on Good Estate Management, get in touch.
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