School Estate Management Standards Annual Return: What we now know
The Department for Education (DfE) has updated its guidance on the School Estate Management Standards Annual Return, providing further detail on the questions Responsible Bodies will be asked and how the return will work in practice.
With the first return opening in the third week of September 2026, the publication of the questions gives Responsible Bodies an opportunity to start preparing now and consider how their current estate management arrangements align with the Standards.
What has the DfE clarified?
The DfE has now published the questions that will form the Annual Return. The return will use multiple-choice questions and should take approximately one hour to complete. Supporting documents do not need to be uploaded, and responses will not affect an organisation’s DfE funding.
The DfE has also confirmed that the return does not necessarily need to be completed by one individual. Different people can complete the sections relevant to their roles, or one person in a senior estate management role can complete the return and consult colleagues where necessary. The final submission should be made by someone in a senior estate management role.
Level 3 is the direction of travel
The DfE expects Responsible Bodies to work towards Level 3 – Fully Effective, but it is not expected that every organisation will already be meeting Level 3.
The Annual Return is not intended to be a test of whether an organisation has already achieved the highest level of practice but an opportunity to understand current position and identify where further progress may be needed.
The DfE also states that there will be no penalty or criticism for organisations that do not meet the Standards, and that it may provide support, including peer support, training and other non-financial support, where appropriate.
No evidence needs to be uploaded but preparation still matters
The DfE has confirmed that Responsible Bodies will not be required to upload supporting documents with their Annual Return.
This should make the submission process relatively straightforward, however, to answer the questions confidently, Responsible Bodies will need a clear understanding of their current estate management arrangements. This includes areas such as governance, estate strategies and asset management plans, statutory compliance, maintenance, condition information, risk management and sustainability.
The publication of the questions therefore provides a useful opportunity to review the Standards alongside existing policies, plans and estate information before the return opens.
What should Responsible Bodies do now?
1. Review the questions
The DfE has now published the questions, so Responsible Bodies can begin to familiarise themselves with what will be asked and consider who within the organisation is best placed to provide the necessary input.
2. Review your current position against the Standards
Consider where current arrangements are meeting the Standards and where there may be gaps or areas for improvement.
The aim should not simply be to prepare answers for the Annual Return, but to understand what those answers say about the effectiveness of current estate management arrangements.
3. Identify who needs to contribute
The questions cover a broad range of estate management responsibilities. Depending on the structure of the organisation, input may be needed from estates, finance, compliance, health and safety, sustainability and other colleagues.
Agreeing responsibilities in advance should make the submission process more efficient.
4. Make sure key information is accessible
Although supporting documents do not need to be uploaded, the people completing the return should have access to the information they need to answer accurately.
Where information is held across different systems, documents or teams, this is a good opportunity to identify any gaps or inconsistencies.
5. Use the results to support improvement
The Annual Return is intended to help Responsible Bodies understand the levels of the Standards they are meeting. Following submission, organisations will be able to view the levels calculated from their answers and provide feedback, including comments on anything preventing them from meeting the Standards.
This provides an opportunity to use the return as part of a wider process of continuous improvement, rather than treating it simply as an annual reporting exercise.
What happens after submission?
Once the return has been submitted, Responsible Bodies can choose to view the levels of the School Estate Management Standards their organisation is meeting, based on their responses.
They can also agree or disagree with the levels, add comments and explain any factors preventing them from meeting the Standards.
This should provide Responsible Bodies with a useful starting point for identifying priorities and considering where further work may be required.
Key dates and support
The first Annual Return will open in the third week of September 2026, with the deadline for submission in late November 2026.
The DfE is also holding a webinar on the Annual Return at 10am on Wednesday 9 September 2026, providing an opportunity for Responsible Bodies to learn more about the process before submissions open.
Responsible Bodies should also ensure they can access Manage your education estate through DfE Sign-in ahead of the submission window.
What does this mean for Responsible Bodies?
The publication of the Annual Return questions means Responsible Bodies can now move from preparing for the introduction of the Standards to considering how their current estate management arrangements align with the specific questions they will be asked.
While the return itself is relatively straightforward, completing it effectively will depend on having a clear understanding of the education estate, its current management arrangements and where further improvements may be needed.
With the submission window opening in September, now is a good time to review the Standards, consider the questions and identify any areas that may require further attention.
How S2e can help
S2e supports schools, academies and multi-academy trusts with the strategic and practical aspects of estate management, from estate strategy and condition assessment to compliance, sustainability and capital planning.
Our education estate specialists can help Responsible Bodies understand how their current arrangements align with the School Estate Management Standards, identify areas for improvement and develop practical plans to address priorities.
If you would like support reviewing your estate management arrangements ahead of the Annual Return, please contact the S2e team.
