Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS) Fundamentals: Estate Strategy and Managing Condition

Overview

The training will help you develop knowledge across the four core sections set out in the Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS) guidance:

  • Estate vision

  • Estate Strategy

  • Asset Management Plan

  • Strategic Review Process

This 2 session training series focuses on Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS) Fundamentals: Part 1: Estate Strategy; and Part 2: Managing Condition

  • Thinking strategically about your estate will make sure the estate supports your educational goals. This training course looks at the fundamentals of estate strategy as set out in the DfE Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS) guidance and how these principles integrate with the day to day activities of estate management and compliance.

  • Managing the condition of school buildings is a core part of estate management. You should maintain the estate to make sure it is safe, warm and dry for all users and provides a suitable teaching and learning environment. This training course looks at the fundamentals of maintaining school buildings as set out in the DfE Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS) guidance .

Learning Outcomes

As a result of undertaking the training, delegates will meet the following learning objectives:

  • Benefits of taking a strategic approach

  • How to create your estate strategy and how this links with your organisation’s overall goals and strategy.

  • How to save time and money and make the best decisions for your estate

  • How to develop a planned preventative maintenance (PPM) programme

  • How to manage maintenance works

About the training

  • You will develop knowledge from both a strategic and operational level of Estate Management best practice. Each session content is set out below:

    Part 1: Estate Strategy

    This training course looks at the fundamentals of estate strategy as set out in the DfE Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS) guidance and how these principles integrate with the day to day activities of estate management and compliance, including:

    • Benefits of taking a strategic approach

    • How to create your estate strategy and how this links with your organisation’s overall goals and strategy.

    • How to save time and money and make the best decisions for your estate

    • How to measure and monitor performance

    Part 2: Managing Condition
    This training course looks at the fundamentals of maintaining school buildings as set out in the DfE Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS) guidance and includes:

    • How to commission and analyse condition surveys

    • How to assess condition, identify what work is needed and prioritise repairs

    • How to develop a planned preventative maintenance (PPM) programme

    • How to manage maintenance works


  • Delivered via the Goto Training webinar platform, delegates will be able to interact with the presenter posing questions and providing feedback on their experiences whilst viewing a live presentation. In advance of the event delegates will receive full log on instructions and a detailed event programme along with the presentation slides.

  • This event is 1.5hrs long. It begins with logon from 09.45 hrs for a 10.00 hrs start, and will finish at 11.30, including an opportunity for Q&A.

  • This training is essential for those responsible for premises management, including head teachers, school bursars, business managers, estates/premises managers, members of the board of trustees/governing body, facilities managers, or anyone else with responsibilities for strategic oversight of the school estate.

  • Yes, we can arrange for this training to be delivered to your local or regional network group. Please contact training@isbl.org.uk for more information on what we can offer.

  • There is an ISBL member rate and a non-member rate for all our training programmes. All rates quoted below are inclusive of VAT and per person:

    Whole webinar series (Parts 1 and 2)

    • ISBL member rate: £90

    • Non member rate: £108


    Single webinars

    • ISBL member rate: £58.80

    • Non member rate: £72

    One of the benefits of being an ISBL member is being able to access the member rates for training and conferences. If you are not a member, you can find out more about joining ISBL by clicking here.

    To be able to access the ISBL member rate, your membership needs to be active before you book your place on the programme.

    The full cost must be paid in full before you start the programme. Our Terms & Conditions can be found here.

Upcoming training dates and bookings

Upcoming training dates are listed below, click on the specific session to be taken to details of how you can book onto the programme. You can book individual sessions or both sessions using the link below.

Part 1: 16th September 2026 Part 2: 23rd September 2026

For any enquiries, please contact: training@isbl.org.uk