Manage the Estate

Against the backdrop of the Education Estates Strategy launched earlier this year, Lindsay Harris will be talking about the School Estate Management Standards (SEMS) Return for the 2026–2027 academic year. The session will also consider the experiences of Academy Trusts on the SEMS Return process, as well as how it aligns with Estate Management at Trust level. There will also be consideration of how the SEMS Return will help set a baseline for future delivery of the strategy across the education estate, supporting the shift towards more proactive, data-led estate management and the longer-term ambition for an estate that is safe, suitable, sustainable and sufficiently sized.

The discussion will explore how stronger estate data and planning can help Responsible Bodies prioritise investment, improve resilience and condition, and make better use of their estates to support education and communities.