Strategic estates management | Confederation of School Trusts

The principles and practice of running school estates effectively at scale

This course gives a comprehensive overview of the Department for Education’s Estates Strategy and what strategic estates management involves. It highlights the frameworks, guidance and data that will help you to create your estate vision and strategy in line with your educational and place-based goals, as well as the tools and techniques to draw upon when building support for your plans, putting them into action and assessing impact.

Who is it for?

Estates managers and directors

Chief finance and operating officers

Trust leaders

What you will gain

This course will give you:

An understanding of the fundamentals of strategic estates management

An overview of the DfE’s guidance and expectations around estates management

A proven framework for creating and developing your estates strategy

Practical advice on application through real-life trust case studies

Preparation and grounding for the new DfE Estates Management returns

Course overview

This course offers a clear, practical introduction to strategic estates management. It takes key Department for Education guidance – Education Estates Strategy, Good Estate Management for Schools, School Estate Management Standards, and the Estate Management Competency Framework - and shows how to apply them in real-world settings. Using practical tools, real case studies, and templates, participants will develop the confidence to shape estate strategy, align it with trust-wide educational goals, and ensure effective planning, compliance, and delivery. Whether you're overseeing a growing portfolio or refining your strategic approach, this course gives you the foundations and foresight to lead well.