The government has published its Education Estates Strategy - a 10-year plan which aims to renew, modernise and future‑proof schools and colleges across England.
Backed by £38 billion in education capital investment between 2025-26 and 2029-30, the strategy sets out an ambitious vision for an estate that is inclusive, safe, suitable, sustainable and sufficiently sized. Here we look at what it means in practice for your school.
A new approach to managing your estate
At the heart of the strategy is a shift towards more proactive, long-term estate management. A new digital service - Manage Your Education Estate - has launched, giving schools and colleges easy access to estate guidance, tools and data at school level. You'll be able to log in using your existing DfE Sign-in account.
From autumn 2026, light-touch self-assessment returns on the Schools Estate Management Standards will be introduced, helping responsible bodies identify where they can improve their approach to estate management. Alongside this, the government is committing to greater certainty on future maintenance allocations — supported by investment of almost £3 billion per year by 2034-35 - so schools can plan with more confidence.
Improving and renewing your buildings
If your school has buildings in need of significant work, there's meaningful support on the way. A new Renewal and Retrofit Programme, backed by over £700 million, will fund projects to improve building condition and increase climate resilience. The programme will pilot from April 2026 in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the South East, before expanding nationally by 2029.
The Condition Improvement Fund is also being replaced from autumn 2028 with a simpler programme that removes the need for responsible bodies to submit full bids - a significant reduction in administrative burden.
For schools concerned about climate impact or longer-term sustainability, the government is also expanding its Sustainability Support Programme to all settings, helping schools develop climate action plans and embed sustainability leadership.
Rebuilding where it's needed most
For schools where renewal simply isn't enough, the School Rebuilding Programme is being expanded. A further 250 schools and sixth-form colleges will be selected by spring 2027 to join more than 500 already in the programme, with almost £20 billion invested through to 2034-35. The nomination process is currently open and closes on 23 April 2026.
New design specifications will also ensure rebuilt schools are healthier, more sustainable environments - with improved outdoor facilities, better indoor air quality and greater access to nature.
Supporting SEND, early years and digital connectivity
The strategy goes beyond bricks and mortar. At least £3.7 billion in high needs capital funding will be invested between 2025-26 and 2029-30 to create 60,000 specialist places. This will fund a transformative expansion of inclusion bases – a new term that will replace the current terms SEN unit, resourced provision and pupil support unit to make it easier for parents to understand the support available for their child.
For schools looking to expand early years provision, £400 million is available from 2025-26 to 2029-30 to deliver thousands more school-based nursery places. And £325 million is earmarked for digital connectivity, including expanding Connect the Classroom and supporting hard-to-reach schools in accessing fast, gigabit-capable broadband.
What you should do now
The scale of this strategy represents a genuine opportunity for schools to improve their buildings and plan for the future. Key near-term actions include:
- log into the new Manage Your Education Estate platform
- check eligibility for the School Rebuilding Programme before the 23 April nomination deadline
- keeping an eye out for guidance on the Renewal and Retrofit Programme pilots
The government is clear that realising this vision depends on strong partnership with those who run and maintain schools. This strategy is the beginning of that journey - and your school is central to it.
If you’ve found this article useful and want to learn more about how we’re supporting schools, click ‘sign up and manage updates’ at the top right of this page to subscribe to our blog and receive notifications when we next post.
Leave a comment