Lizzie Dixon

As we settle into the new year, school estate managers have a prime opportunity to put their 2026 plans into action and set the tone for the months ahead. Following the break, students and staff return refreshed and refocused, making it the ideal moment to introduce new initiatives, policies, investments and work towards long term … Read more

As the outcome of primary and secondary school applications draw closer, schools now face a crucial period as they determine admissions and begin preparing for a new cohort of students. This is also an important window for school estate managers, who will soon need to begin preparation for September intakes. Ensuring that learning spaces will … Read more

Throughout 2025, significant commitments were announced to rebuild schools, remove Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), expand facilities and fund major building repairs and expansions. This has set the stage for significant transformation of UK schools in 2026, and school estate managers will need to consider how to make improvements while complying with strict budgets, timelines, … Read more

As schools break for Christmas and prepare to head into the new year, there are a number of trends set to shape their estates. With several already gaining momentum this year, these key areas of focus will be making an even greater mark on school buildings across the country in 2026. Read on for our … Read more

The government has recently announced a raft of changes impacting school estates, which have highlighted the increasing need for school buildings and spaces to be highly adaptable to meet the evolving requirements of modern education. For example, this month saw the release of the new revised national curriculum, which aims to give young people the … Read more

As school estate managers face ageing buildings and infrastructure, increasingly severe weather as a result of the climate crisis and fluctuating student numbers, resilient education facilities must be prioritised. Today’s schools require buildings that can withstand emergencies and adapt during crises, ensuring student safety and allowing for learning to continue.  Modern methods of construction (MMC) … Read more

Due to the expansion in funded childcare eligibility in the UK, an increasing number of nursery age children are now accessing government-funded early education hours every week. To accommodate this rise in demand for nursery spaces, the UK government has launched the School-based Nursery (SBN) programme, aiming to open new or expanded nurseries on school … Read more

Q: What is salutogenic design? Hannah: “Salutogenic design reframes construction through the lens of health and wellbeing. It’s built on three key principles – comprehensibility, which looks at how the entire infrastructure is arranged and comes together, manageability, which focuses on maximising agency through adjustable features, and meaningfulness, which considers how design can promote a … Read more

According to recent Government figures, 80% of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are currently attending mainstream, state-funded schools, with four in five school leaders saying they are struggling to meet learners’ needs due to the lack of specialist provision. Supporting SEND students is becoming an increasingly focal topic of discussion amongst both Government … Read more

Shorter days are a seasonal cue for school estates managers to start winter-proofing their sites before the weather turns colder and icier. Making sure buildings are weatherproofed will be a key priority over the coming months. While some schools prioritise annual maintenance tasks, modular construction can proactively prepare schools for winter pressures and minimise the … Read more