A Decade of Renewal: The Government’s 10 Year Plan to Transform England’s Education Estate

The UK Government has unveiled an ambitious 10‑year Education Estates Strategy, outlining a long‑term, fully funded commitment to improving every aspect of the school and college estate across England. With £38 billion invested between 2025–2030 – and confirmed funding streams extending to 2034–35 – this strategy marks the most comprehensive overhaul of educational infrastructure in a generation.

But this isn’t just about buildings. It’s about unlocking opportunity, supporting communities, and creating learning environments that help every child and young person thrive.

Why Change is Needed

England’s education estate is vast, covering:

• 22,000+ schools and colleges

• 10 million+ children, young people and adult learners

• 70,000 buildings nationwide

  
  

Significant issues have built up over decades:

• Ageing buildings from the mid‑20th century reaching end‑of‑life

• Rising maintenance backlogs

• Schools at risk from overheating, flooding and outdated infrastructure

• Insufficient specialist spaces for pupils with SEND

• A lack of long‑term planning and fragmented oversight across 2,800 Responsible Bodies

Evidence shows that poor‑quality buildings negatively affect attainment, wellbeing and attendance. Meanwhile, climate pressures and demographic shifts mean the current estate is no longer fit for purpose.

The Vision: A Safe, Sustainable, Suitable and Sufficient Education Estate Leaks 

The strategy sets a clear vision for an estate that is:

1. Safe

Buildings meet all safety requirements and are proactively maintained – not just “patched and mended”.

2. Sustainable

Schools and colleges will be designed or upgraded to be climate‑resilient, low‑carbon and nature‑rich, with expansion of solar power and biodiversity‑led design.

3. Suitable

Spaces must support modern teaching, SEND provision, early years expansion, skills development and digital connectivity.

4. Sufficiently Sized

Capacity will better match local needs - from school‑based nurseries through to post‑16 learning.

How the DfE will Deliver Change 

The strategy is built around three pillars supported by a major digital transformation:

1. Managing the Estate Better

To move from reactive repairs to proactive planning, the government will:

• Launch Manage Your Education Estate, a new digital platform (Feb 2026) bringing guidance, data, funding and tools into one place

• Require Responsible Bodies to submit an annual estate management return

• Provide clearer national standards for both schools and FE colleges

• Support responsible use of spare school space as demographics shift

• Pilot community‑focused use of surplus estate capacity

This approach provides clarity, accountability and consistent expectations across the system.

2. Improving and Renewing Existing Buildings

A major shift towards long‑term maintenance and strategic refurbishment includes:

• Nearly £3 billion per year committed to maintenance funding by 2034–35

• A new Renewal and Retrofit Programme (£710m to 2029–30) to target buildings that are too costly to maintain but not yet ready for rebuild

• Expansion of solar installations, energy‑efficiency measures and climate‑resilience upgrades

• Dedicated investment of £3.7 billion to create 60,000 more SEND places and upgrade mainstream settings

• £325 million to upgrade digital connectivity and close the digital divide

• Growth of the Sustainability Support Programme and climate education initiatives

This is the biggest national push yet to create resilient, low‑carbon, future‑proof learning environments.

3. Building and Rebuilding Where It’s Needed Most

To address buildings in the worst condition and meet local demand:

• 750+ schools and colleges will be rebuilt through almost £20 billion of investment

• A further 250 projects will be selected by 2027

• All RAAC will be removed by 2029

• New design specifications will make every new build:

  • Net zero in operation

  • Climate‑resilient

  • Rich in access to nature

  • Better suited to inclusive and SEND-friendly design

• £400 million will deliver thousands more school‑based nursery places

• £395 million will expand post‑16 capacity, largely devolved to regional authorities

This construction pipeline provides stability to the sector while driving better value, innovation and workforce development.

Schools and Colleges at the Heart of Communities 

A central theme of the strategy is strengthening the role of education settings as community anchors. This includes:

• Closer alignment between school spaces and local family hubs, health services and housing growth

• Pathfinders exploring how surplus school spaces can support wider community needs

• Collaboration with local authorities, dioceses, multi‑academy trusts and further education leaders

The strategy recognises that education buildings are key public assets that can deliver social, economic and environmental value far beyond the classroom.

A Long-Term, Whole-System Transformation 

This strategy is unprecedented in scale, stability and ambition. By 2035, the government aims to have:

• A modern, resilient education estate

• A transformed data and digital system

• Better managed assets with clearer standards

• More inclusive environments for pupils with SEND

• Reduced carbon emissions and energy waste

• Enhanced community infrastructure

• A long‑term construction pipeline supporting skills and jobs

Most importantly, it aims to ensure every child - regardless of background - learns in a safe, inspiring environment that supports their potential.

Final Thoughts 

The Education Estates Strategy represents a generational opportunity. Its success depends not only on government investment but on collaboration with the thousands of organisations that manage education buildings every day.

If delivered as planned, this decade of national renewal will reshape how we build, maintain and use education spaces - creating an estate that truly supports opportunity for all.

If you would like support with your Education Estate then please get in touch.