Published in February 2026, the Education Estates Strategy outlines the government’s plan to deliver a decade of national renewal for school and college buildings. It aims to create an estate that is:

• Safe

• Suitable

• Sustainable

• Sufficiently sized

• Resilient to future challenges

The strategy prioritises condition need, risk and resilience, alongside delivering new buildings where required.

It is underpinned by £38 billion of capital investment between 2025–26 and 2029–30, the highest level of education capital funding since 2010.

According to the DfE, the strategy is built around three core pillars:

1. Manage the estate

2. Improve and renew the estate

3. Build and rebuild the estate

These pillars reflect a shift away from reactive repairs and towards planned, strategic maintenance, improved data, and long‑term investment.

A More Proactive Approach to Estate Management

The strategy introduces a new digital service — Manage Your Education Estate — giving responsible bodies access to estate data, guidance and tools.

From autumn 2026, schools will also complete light‑touch self‑assessment returns against the Schools Estate Management Standards, helping identify gaps and improvement opportunities.

Greater Funding Certainty

The government is committing to almost £3 billion per year in future maintenance allocations by 2034–35, giving schools more confidence to plan long‑term works.

Renewal & Retrofit Programme

A new £700 million Renewal and Retrofit Programme will support major condition improvements and climate‑resilience upgrades, piloting from April 2026 before expanding nationally.

Simplified Capital Funding

The Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) will be replaced from autumn 2028 with a simpler, less burdensome programme, reducing administrative workload for responsible bodies.

Expanded School Rebuilding Programme

A further 250 schools and sixth‑form colleges will be added to the national rebuilding programme by spring 2027, with nearly £20 billion invested through to 2034–35.

We help schools and trusts align their estate planning with the expectations set out in the Education Estates Strategy — ensuring compliance, clarity and long‑term resilience.

Strategic Estate Planning

We can support to develop:

• Estate visions

• Long‑term estate strategies

• Asset management plans

• Condition‑based prioritisation

• Risk‑based maintenance planning

Our approach aligns with DfE’s emphasis on proactive, strategic estate management.

Condition Surveys & Compliance Reviews

Our surveyors deliver detailed condition assessments that help schools:

• Identify urgent issues

• Prioritise works based on risk

• Build evidence for funding

• Plan renewal and retrofit projects

Climate Resilience & Sustainability Planning

With the strategy’s focus on climate resilience, we help schools develop:

• Decarbonisation plans

• Energy strategies

• Climate action plans

• Sustainability leadership frameworks

Project Delivery & Estate Improvements

From feasibility to handover, we manage:

• Renewal projects

• Retrofit works

• Heating and mechanical upgrades

• Roofing, fabric and structural improvements

• Rebuild‑ready preparatory works

Our project managers ensure compliance with CDM regulations, DfE specifications and sustainability standards.

The Education Estates Strategy will be introduced in stages over the next three years, but the direction is already clear. Schools, trusts and responsible bodies that begin strengthening their estate data, governance and long‑term planning now will be far better placed as the new national requirements come into force.

Over the next 12–24 months, responsible bodies should prioritise:

• Refreshing and reinforcing their estate strategy, ensuring it reflects current building condition, emerging risks and long‑term investment needs.

• Assessing their alignment with the School Estate Management Standards, pinpointing gaps in governance, compliance and reporting processes.

• Improving the quality and completeness of estate condition data, including surveys, lifecycle assessments and asset information.

• Identifying buildings that may be suitable for renewal or retrofit programmes, based on condition, suitability and future viability.

• Preparing for a move away from CIF‑style competitive bidding, towards a more structured, evidence‑driven funding landscape.

Munday & Cramer can guide responsible bodies through each of these steps — from data capture and strategic planning to compliance reviews and project delivery — helping you stay ahead of the changes rather than responding to them under pressure.