The Autumn Return: Now We Know
Back in June, I published a piece about the SEMS Annual Return with an honest cave…
Your Energy Supplier May Be Fine. Your Contract Isn't.
An academy trust could be perfectly satisfied with its energy supplier and still h…
GEMS telecoms update: what schools and trusts need to know
On 3 July 2026, the Department for Education updated its Good estate management fo…
£314m Is Leaving School Capital. That's Not The Real Story
Somewhere inside the Department for Education's £31.4 billion capital budget, £314…
A Day in the Life of a School Site Manager
5:55 a.m. Alarm goes before it needs to. He's awake anyway. Kettle on, one strong …
The week your fire strategy gets propped open
It’s 30 degrees outside, but step inside a south-facing classroom mid-afternoon an…
England's school sprinkler rethink
I was visiting a school last week and as we were walking up to the office we passe…
The Autumn Return: What We Know, What We Don't.
Most people in the sector have heard of Manage Your Education Estate by now — the …
2026 Guide to Buying School Compliance and Premises Software
Most schools buying compliance software in 2026 will make the wrong choice — not b…
The DfE's Renewal and Retrofit Programme Is Live. The Question Isn't Whether Your Building Qualifies.
The pilot is already running. Around 50 projects are underway across schools in th…
There's a change in the KCSIE 2026 draft guidance - and it requires immediate action
Listen to this article on our new YouTube Podcast There's a change in the Keeping …
CIF results are coming. Here's what to expect — and what to do if yours go badly.
The 2026–27 Condition Improvement Fund results are expected this month. If you sub…
Your Ofsted Grade Now Includes This
Click here to listen to this article on our new YouTube podcast! A school I'm work…
Why Your Lockdown Plan Probably Won't Satisfy Martyn's Law
Click here to listen to this article on our new YouTube podcast! We have known the…
Why Your Asbestos Register Might Not Survive The HSE's 2026 Spot Checks
Click here to listen to this article on our new YouTube podcast! The HSE has just …
Why Your Current Fire Risk Assessment Might Now Be a Liability
If you manage an education estate, the push for stricter competency standards prob…
Legionella in the News: The Pre-Return Reality for Estates
Some of you might have read about the UKHSA investigating a London Legionella clus…
DfE SRP 2026: Up to 250 Schools Will Be Selected — Will Yours Be One?
If your school buildings have moved beyond routine maintenance and require total r…
The HSE Isn't Your Only Regulator Anymore
At the end of January 2026, a fundamental regulatory shift took place: the Buildin…
The new DfE portal: It’s only half the story
The "Manage Your Education Estate" portal, which launched this month, marks a sign…
Education Estates Strategy: A Decade of National Renewal
Yesterday, Wednesday 11 February 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) released…
The Clock is Ticking: Are you at Level 3?
It has been roughly ten months since the DfE officially launched the School Estate…
Life Cycles - Why They Matter So Much
I was reading a Sky News article this morning about the UK weather forecast. Accor…
What Estates Team Culture Really Means
Over the Christmas break I was chatting to an architect who works on new school bu…
7 Things Your School Site Team Shouldn’t Do Over the Festive Break (and What to Do Instead)
You know the feeling: the site’s finally quiet, the corridors aren’t full of coats…
Does Your School First Aid Kit Come with Psychological Plasters?
Why December is the time to look after more than frozen pipes.
Making Sense of Asset Management in Schools
Every school starts somewhere. Some start with colour-coded spreadsheets. Some sta…
Great Site Teams Are Worth Every Penny
Let’s talk about Trigger’s Broom. No, not a new cleaning product — the legend.
The True Cost of Reputational Damage from Compliance
Why compliance isn't just about audits – it's about protecting your school or trus…
Would Your Defibrillator Be Ready When It Counts?
When a student collapsed during PE, the school’s premises manager ran for the new …
Are You Ready for the Autumn Audit?
When you read the title, you probably thought Ofsted, didn’t you? Nope—that was my…
Centralised, Decentralised, or Hybrid? How MATs Are Managing Estates and Compliance
I speak to a number of multi-academy trusts in my role, and I’m always fascinated …
‘Outstanding’ Doesn’t Happen by Accident
I was doing an on-site demo recently, and in the chat afterwards we ended up talki…
🌍 Sustainability in Schools: What’s Changing — and What To Do
What you need to know — clearly laid out, stress-free, and up to date for 2025
The 3:00am Test: Could You Answer Any Premises Question, Any Time?
You’ve just come back from holiday. The plane landed at 7:03pm — it took nearly fo…
How to Conduct a Risk Assessment
Requirements and Best Practice for Schools & Trusts
12 Non-Negotiables When Buying School Compliance Software
(Because looking good on demo day means nothing if it’s a nightmare by term two)
Quiet Days for Site Teams?
Why Our Brains Beg for Quiet Cognitive Load & Task Switching Every switch from…
🚀 Statlog v3 – modern compliance & premises software for schools
Managing school estates isn’t getting any easier. Budgets are tight. Expectations …
🎨 From Dull to Dynamic: Using Colour Psychology in School Corridors 🎨
Transforming School Corridors from Drab Walkways into Vibrant Spaces Corridors hav…
Why Estates Teams Are Quietly at the Heart of Safeguarding
You might not see them in the strategy meetings. You might not hear them in the ca…
Mental Health in Estates Teams: The Risk We’re Not Logging
Mark didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to.
The Playground That Cried Wolf… Then Actually Broke
It started with a creak. Then a wobble. Then that slow-turning, side-eyed look tha…
Say It. Walk It. Log It. Smarter Site Communication
Why a quick face-to-face and the right follow-up system might be the best communic…
🌡️ Thermometer Wars: Are You Really Getting an Accurate Water Temperature Reading?
In the world of Legionella control, close enough isn’t close enough. It’s 8:04 AM.…
Week Two of Easter: Quick Wins While the School Is Still Quiet
The first week of the Easter break is often spent firefighting – fixing what broke…
The Most Expensive Spreadsheet You’ve Ever Seen
At first glance, it looks harmless. It might even look organised. Rows neatly labe…
Diary of a Trust Estate Manager: A Day in the Life (Monday)
Dear Diary...
Your Project Plan is Approved—Now What?
Your school’s project plan has been approved. Fantastic! 🎉
How School Estate Teams Can Say ‘No’ Without Being the Bad Guys
The ‘Can You Just…’ Epidemic If you manage a school estate, you’ll know this scena…
Would Your Premises Pass the ‘What If?’ Test?
Most school estate teams would say they’re on top of things. The buildings are sta…
Fire Safety in Schools: If You Only Read One Compliance Guide, Make It This One
Schools are predictable in their unpredictability. You never know when a pupil wil…
The Impact of Declining Pupil Numbers on School Estates Management
I recently spoke with a school governor about their estate team, and one of their …
Compliance Strategy: Upskilling, Shared Resources, or Outsourcing?
Keeping a school running smoothly isn’t just about fixing what’s broken; it’s abou…
From Manual to Automated: The Evolution of Premises Management
The Evolution of Premises Management The Manual Era: Paperwork, Panic, and Persist…
Back to Basics: Statutory Testing in Schools
Back to Basics: Statutory Testing in Schools Statutory testing is one of the most …
CDM Compliance: Building Safer Schools and Trusts
A major school renovation should be a moment of progress—but what happens when saf…
The Hidden Superpower of Headteachers
When you think about what makes a great headteacher, premises management might not…
How Premises Management Software Should Support a School
In a previous blog "How Premises Management Software Should Support a Multi-Academ…
Top 10 Challenges Faced by Estate Leads in 2024
Over the past year, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and network with estate lea…
Smarter Estate Management Aligned with Modern Standards
Mrs. Reynolds glanced at the peeling paint on the main corridor’s walls and sighed…
Statlog @ SAAShow NEC Nov 2024
Statlog, a leading provider of premises management software for educational instit…
How Compliance & Premises Management Software Should Support a Multi-Academy Trust
I've spoken to hundreds of trust leaders this year and wanted to share insights fr…
Creating Positive School Environments: 10 Small Upgrades with Big Impact
When we think about improving schools, we often imagine high-cost projects or larg…
The Real Reason Things Aren’t Getting Done (and It’s Not What You Think)
When I sit down with an estate team at a multi-academy trust (or a large independe…
Primary Schools: A Different Approach to Premises Management
I recently attended my daughter’s primary school for her violin choir show. It was…
Tired Estate Teams and Endless To-Do Lists? Software Can Help
In schools and trusts, estate teams often face an uphill battle. The to-do lists a…
Balancing Compliance and Budgets
I recently had a heartfelt conversation with a school's business manager who share…
Asbestos in Schools
Last week, I found myself at a safety conference, sipping lukewarm coffee and half…
How to [Easily] Switch Compliance or Premises Management Platforms
When I receive an enquiry about how Statlog works, one question almost always pops…
It’s All About the ‘Big Picture’
Managing educational estates in the UK is a complex task that requires a strategic…
Capital Programme Manager: Make Every Pound Count
I was visiting a prospect this week, and we were talking about the challenges of m…
How to Tackle Scope Creep at Your School
Managing the estates of an educational establishment is no small feat. Imagine pla…
How a Premises Management Solution Should Support You
Imagine having visibility into all your building conditions, projects, and complia…
From Boilers to Busted lab equipment: How PPM Can Transform Your School
Let's be honest – schools have a lot on their plates. From educating students to m…
Setting Net Zero Goals in Your Trust
Many schools are taking a stand for the environment, and Multi-Academy Trusts (MAT…
Community Spirit and the Power of School Resource Management
This past weekend, I attended the local school fair and was struck by the strong s…
The Benefits of Centralising School Premises Data
Realising the Power of Centralised Data Just the other day, I had a fascinating co…
Navigating the Funding Maze: How Software Can Make Every Penny Count in Schools
Let’s talk about something that’s on the minds of many schools: money, or more acc…
Enhancing School Reputation: Key Factors for Success
Two London secondary schools have recently made headlines by being shortlisted for…
Growing Multi-Academy Trusts in the UK
Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) have become a significant part of the UK education sce…
Clunkiness is Holding You Back and What You Can Do About It
In my role at Statlog, where we provide comprehensive premises management solution…
How New Platforms are Revolutionising Compliance Management in Schools
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, compliance management is paramount to…
Data-Driven Decisions: Why Your MAT Needs a Capital Programme Manager for Strategic Budgeting
The Budgeting Balancing Act Running a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) is a complex balan…
Beyond Ticking Boxes: How Proactive Premises Management Elevates Your MAT's Reputation
More Than Just School Compliance Let's be honest, no one jumps for joy over compli…
Stop Playing Catch-Up: Proactive Solutions for School Maintenance
Leaky roofs, flickering lights, and a boiler that sounds like a dragon clearing it…
Spreadsheets: The Estate Team Frenemy (and How to Break Up with Them)
Spreadsheets have long been the go-to tool for managing funds and building conditi…
Your Guide to Buying School Compliance & Premises Management Software
Premises Management Software Sure, meeting compliance standards is essential for a…
Proactive Premises Management
A recent NAHT survey revealed that many schools in the UK are facing challenges re…
The Cost of Living Crisis and UK Schools: Finding Efficiencies in a Time of Scarcity
The cost of living crisis placed unprecedented strain on UK schools. Energy costs …
The Importance of Verifying Contractor Competence
Contractors are the backbone of any school's efficient maintenance and project wor…
Easter Egg-cellence in Safety: Were Your Event Upgrades CDM Compliant?
Easter fetes, fairs, and other events are beloved traditions, bringing a touch of …
Are Your Budgets Leaking?
Small maintenance problems often seem harmless, like a leaky tap or flickering lig…
Taming the Compliance Monster
Taming the Compliance Monster Keeping up with the ever-changing maze of building r…
From Chaos to Control: How to Centralise Your Premises Data
The Scattered Nightmare Stacks of old reports gathering dust on desks, spreadsheet…
Navigating Statutory Compliance in Schools
Statutory compliance within the education sector encompasses a wide range of oblig…
The Challenge of Managing Building Surveys for a MAT
Multi-academy trusts face a unique set of challenges when managing building survey…
When Green Isn't Really Green
In a world increasingly focused on achieving targets and "ticking the boxes," it's…