At Help for Schools, we are passionate about supporting schools in managing their estates efficiently, ensuring that every student and staff member benefits from a safe, inspiring, and well-maintained learning environment. Our Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS) consultancy service offers expert guidance and tailored solutions to help schools of all sizes manage their buildings and grounds effectively.

Why Estate Management Matters

A well-managed school estate is essential for:

  • Ensuring safety and compliance with statutory regulations.
  • Creating an environment conducive to learning and teaching.
  • Reducing operational costs and improving energy efficiency.
  • Planning for future growth and sustainability.

Our GEMS consultancy focuses on helping schools achieve these goals through practical, actionable advice and ongoing support.

Our Services Include:

  1. Estate Strategy Development We work with you to create a strategic, long-term vision for your school estate, aligned with your educational goals and financial resources. Our experts will assess your current facilities, identify potential improvements, and create a roadmap for growth and sustainability.
  2. Compliance and Risk Management Keeping your school compliant with health, safety, and building regulations is a critical aspect of estate management. We provide detailed audits and help implement systems to monitor and manage compliance with fire safety, asbestos, legionella, and more.
  3. Space Utilisation and Optimisation Efficient use of space can significantly impact the quality of education and the school’s budget. We assess how your facilities are currently used and recommend ways to optimize learning spaces, recreational areas, and administrative offices to make the most out of your estate.
  4. Maintenance Planning Proactive maintenance reduces the risk of unexpected repairs and minimizes disruption to school life. We help develop comprehensive, cost-effective maintenance schedules to ensure that your facilities remain in top condition throughout the year.
  5. Energy Efficiency and Sustainability In the age of sustainability, reducing energy consumption and implementing green practices is essential for both the environment and the school budget. Our consultants provide expert advice on energy-efficient solutions, waste reduction, and sustainable building practices that align with your school’s ethos.
  6. Capital Project Management Whether you’re expanding your facilities, renovating existing buildings, or undertaking large-scale repairs, we guide you through the entire project lifecycle—from planning and budgeting to contractor management and completion—ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.

How We Work

Our GEMS consultancy service is flexible and tailored to meet the unique needs of each school. Whether you require a one-off assessment or ongoing support, our consultants are here to help. We start by understanding your school’s specific challenges and objectives, then work collaboratively with your leadership team to create a customized estate management plan.

Why Choose Help for Schools?

  • Expertise: Our team of consultants brings years of experience in school estate management, with a deep understanding of both regulatory requirements and the specific needs of educational environments.
  • Tailored Solutions: We recognize that every school is different. Our approach is always personalized to fit your school’s size, budget, and goals.
  • Sustainability Focus: We are committed to helping schools implement eco-friendly practices that reduce their carbon footprint and create long-term savings.

Get in Touch

Ready to improve your school’s estate management? Contact us today to learn more about how our Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS) consultancy can benefit your school. Whether you’re looking for strategic advice, compliance audits, or project management support, we’re here to help.

Testimonials

Hear from schools and trusts like yours that are benefiting from working with Help for Schools.

Help for Schools / Spencer Van der Werf has provided consistent high quality services to our Trust supporting our Capital Projects team deliver changes to our building infrastructure, improving the resources available and facilitating improved quality of teaching. He is able to interpret outline concepts, bring designs to the table, see through the building project management and quality check the final delivery. A great asset to secure your change plans.

Paul Atkinson – Director of Finance, Haberdashers’ Academies Trust South

Help for Schools is a reliable partner for complex projects, delivering solutions that are clear and effective. They excel in continuous improvement and proactive problem prevention in every interaction. I had the pleasure of working with Spencer on a project to convert shower rooms into a classroom, and I was impressed by his detailed project proposal and timely execution. He also identified many benefits, both tangible and intangible, from the project. Help for Schools will always be my first choice for project management.

Rachel Danso – Business Manager, Borough Academy

Help For Schools provided critical support to Day One Trust as we reconfigured our estates and facilities provision. They helped us understand our needs and manage the transition from an ineffective outsourced service to a professional in-house team. Their support included designing our team structure and guiding our recruitment, as well as establishing the systems and processes that team needed to work with. I’ve worked with Spencer and his team for many years on multiple projects and I’ve always found him to be professional, diligent, pragmatic and committed to students by securing high quality and value for money estates and facilities provision.

Fred Sharrock – CEO at Day One Trust

Help For Schools has played an integral role in overseeing and managing a £28 million project – the build of a new secondary school in central London. From the client perspective Spencer has managed effectively the multiple partners engaged in this project, from the comms to the project plan. His strengths lie in his attention to detail, his ability to find solutions to complex problems and his delivery of results.

Declan Jones – Principal at Borough Academy

I have known Simon for several years and he has always been a font of wisdom, advice and an intelligent steer to educational professionals; especially those looking to leadership. What has struck me most about his approach has been his willingness to engage with kindness without the need for reciprocity. Someone with true integrity.

Barry Cooper – Founding Principal at The Global College

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