coombes : everitt Your Sector Unlock Your School’s Potential with a Tailored Estate Development Plan
Unlock Your School’s Potential with a Tailored Estate Development Plan
When it comes to your schools’ estate, we appreciate that your time is a constraint and your focus is on the immediate needs of supporting pupils and teachers, ensuring a safe environment and keeping budgets out of deficit. However, spending time on the creation of a strategic Estate Development Plan is fundamentally one of the best investments you can make.
Mike Court, Associate Director at coombes:everitt architects, has over 20 years’ experience specialising in the Education sector. He has a unique perspective from both sides of the fence as both an architect and as a Director of Estates at a well-known heritage venue.
Mike has successfully adopted an Estate Development Planning approach for many schools, including the estate he personally looks after. In his experience, an Estate Development Plan (EDP) not only reduces the pressure on finances through more effective longer term planning but also assists the school and its Governors or Trustees in making informed decisions that help realise the vision and longer term goals of the school.
What is an Estate Development Plan?
Estate Development Plans provide a 5-10 year strategic roadmap for development designed to optimise and improve a school’s physical environment. It ensures that resources are allocated efficiently, identifies a plan for facility upgrades, maintenance and future development alongside addressing any safety or compliance issues.
“You wouldn’t board a plane without knowing where it would land. Why would your school be any different?”.
You may have heard of master plans, development plans, a development master plan, estate master plans and every variation in between! These are all plans designed to support estate development however mean very little unless they deliver what you need. This is a common pitfall. We have worked with several schools who have previously procured such a plan in the past only to find the outcome has been of limited value.
Successful Estate Development Planning
An Estate Development Plan is far more than a masterplan. At coombes:everitt, we take a holistic approach to strategic planning that starts with the end in mind – your vision and longer term objectives and goals for the school. A key part of this involves assessing the current condition of buildings and grounds but it extends beyond architecture to also consider how the school operates alongside staffing, pupils and curriculum. We believe that this holistic approach delivers more innovative and cost efficient solutions – for example our experience has identified that there is lots of capacity and wastage in estates which can often be optimised without laying a brick. Sometimes a simple change to curriculum planning can create new opportunities for space utilisation. Our plans are tailored to the specific needs of your school, your budget and your vision and prioritise safety, sustainability, space utilisation, and overall health and well-being of students and staff.
Our approach is collaborative, involving input from school leadership, teachers, students, and parents. By conducting surveys and holding consultations, we gather insights from those who use the facilities every day. This ensures that the final plan reflects the needs and priorities of the entire school community, resulting in a better outcome for everyone.
“Mike is a creative thinker and problem solver with a wealth of experience. Working with Mike felt like a partnership which resulted in all those involved motivated towards the future success of the school “
Stephen Robbie (West Berkshire Council)
What are the Benefits?
- Focus: An EDP improves the efficiency and organisation of any school by ensuring all departments within the school are focused on and motivated towards an agreed set of objectives.
- Cost Savings: Through managing and making the best use of existing resources and forward planning for future works. Budgets can be allocated to the right projects at the right time thus avoiding costly short term reactive works
- Higher Funding Success: Establishes ‘Spade Ready’ projects that are ready to go thereby offering strength and a level of preparation to any funding opportunities as they arise.
- Sustainability and Reduced Utility Costs: If desired, we can offer a pathway to Sustainability, Carbon Reduction or Neutrality tailored to the needs of each school. Sustainable solutions also frequently reduce on-going utility costs.
- Additional Income Opportunities: We can also consider opportunities for additional income, if appropriate
- Compliance: A critical part of the EDP is to address any regulatory compliance issues for existing buildings as well as future-proofing against further legislation. An Estate Development Plan also forms part of the Good Estate Management Guide for schools.
- Creates a Learning Environment that fosters Academic Success and Well-being: Improvements such as ventilation, natural light and access to outdoor areas contribute to a positive atmosphere for both pupils and staff
- Respond to Evolving Educational Needs: A strategic plan ensures that future educational needs have been considered and planned for
FAQ’s:
What is included in an Estate Development Plan?
An Estate Development Plan typically includes a detailed assessment of current buildings and grounds, identification of priority projects, a maintenance and upgrade schedule, recommendations for sustainability improvements, and a budget forecast. It also includes designs and proposals for new or reconfigured spaces that support modern teaching methods and student needs.
How does an Estate Development Plan improve student well-being and academic performance?
A well-implemented Estate Development Plan can significantly enhance student well-being by creating safer, healthier, and more inspiring learning spaces. Improvements such as better ventilation, natural light, and access to outdoor areas contribute to a positive atmosphere, reducing stress and boosting focus. Enhanced learning environments have been shown to improve engagement and academic performance.
How long does it take to develop an Estate Development Plan?
The time required to create an Estate Development Plan can vary depending on the size of the school and the complexity of the facilities. Typically the process takes between 3-6 months. This time frame includes site assessments, stakeholder consultations, development of the plan, and review periods to ensure the plan aligns with the school’s vision and needs.
How much does an Estate Development Plan cost?
The cost of an Estate Development Plan varies based on factors such as the size of the school, the complexity of existing infrastructure, and the scope of improvements needed. A customised plan ensures that every investment is carefully considered for maximum impact. In our experience, this upfront investment saves time and money in the longer term and often pays for itself. Contact us for a free consultation, and we’ll provide a detailed quote tailored to your school’s requirements.
Will implementing an Estate Development Plan disrupt school activities?
We understand the importance of minimising disruption to students and staff. Our planning process includes detailed project schedules that aim to align with the school calendar and avoid peak activity times. We work closely with school leaders to ensure that any necessary work is carried out smoothly and with minimal interference to daily operations.
How can we ensure the plan meets the needs of all stakeholders?
Our approach is collaborative, involving input from school leadership, teachers, students, and parents. By conducting surveys and holding consultations, we gather insights from those who use the facilities every day. This ensures that the final plan reflects the needs and priorities of the entire school community, resulting in a better outcome for everyone.
What are the benefits of incorporating sustainability into the plan?
Incorporating sustainability measures into an Estate Development Plan offers numerous benefits, including reduced energy costs, improved air quality, and a healthier environment for students and staff. Our Education Estate Development Road Map outlines the priorities and implementation sequence to decarbonise your estate.
How do we get started with an Estate Development Plan?
Getting started is easy! Simply reach out to us to schedule a free consultation. We’ll discuss your school’s current challenges, goals, and vision. From there, we’ll conduct a site assessment and develop a proposal to meet your school’s specific needs and budget.