School estates management is becoming more structured, more visible and more accountable. Expectations are therefore rising fast.
Facility managers are already doing the work. But the pressure to evidence compliance, planning and governance is increasing.
In many schools, critical estates knowledge still lives across inboxes, spreadsheets and people’s heads, making it harder to respond with confidence when questions are asked.
The Department for Education’s January 2026 update signals a shift in how school estates are expected to be managed, evidenced and governed.
While it’s not new legislation, it reinforces clearer accountability, stronger planning expectations and an increased focus on evidence, sustainability and digital readiness.
For school and trust FM teams, this means estates management is becoming more visible at leadership and governance level, so the ability to show what you’re doing matters more than ever.
In this guide, you’ll discover:
What the DfE has actually published, and what it means in practice
How the new School Estate Management Standards define “good” estates management
The four maturity levels and what working toward Level 3 really looks like
What’s changing around evidence, planning and accountability
How expectations around digital readiness and sustainability are evolving
