School Estate Management Standards Annual Return: Key Takeaways from the DfE Webinar
With the first School Estate Management Standards Annual Return opening on 22 September, the Department for Education (DfE) recently held a webinar providing further insight into the purpose of the return, what Responsible Bodies can expect and how the results will be used.
For Responsible Bodies preparing to complete the return, the webinar provided some useful context around what the DfE is seeking to achieve and how the return fits within the wider School Estate Management Standards.
What is the purpose of the Annual Return?
The DfE explained that one of the key purposes of the Annual Return is to build a national picture of Responsible Bodies’ capability in estate management.
Currently, the DfE has largely anecdotal evidence rather than a national picture based on empirical data. The Annual Return will provide a more consistent understanding of how Responsible Bodies are managing their estates and where further support may be needed.
The DfE therefore emphasised the importance of providing honest responses to the questions. The purpose is not simply to demonstrate compliance, but to establish a realistic picture of current practice.
The return is also intended to help identify where Responsible Bodies may need additional support. This could include training, peer support or other forms of non-financial support.
More broadly, the aim is to support high standards of estate management across the sector, helping to ensure that school buildings are well managed and looked after.
Helping Responsible Bodies understand where to improve
An important message from the webinar was that the Annual Return should also be useful to Responsible Bodies themselves.
The return covers six key areas of estate management, with Responsible Bodies receiving a score for each area. This should help them understand where their strengths and weaknesses lie, identify the areas presenting the greatest risks and determine where improvement should be prioritised.
The results can then provide a basis for considering:
who needs to be involved;
what information is required; and
what actions are needed to address identified gaps.
This means the value of the Annual Return extends beyond submitting the return itself. The results should help Responsible Bodies understand their current position and inform future estate management priorities.
The Standards are a journey
The DfE also reinforced that the School Estate Management Standards should be viewed as a journey of continuous improvement.
The four levels are intended to represent a progression in estate management practice:
Level 1 – Essential requirements
Level 2 – Strengthening practice
Level 3 – Effective practice
Level 4 – Strategic deployment
The Annual Return is intended to help Responsible Bodies understand their current position and identify a realistic route towards improving their practice across these levels.
This is important context when considering the results. The return is not simply about achieving a particular level; it is about understanding where an organisation is now, identifying the areas that require attention and establishing appropriate priorities for improvement.
The DfE's wider objective is to see improvement over time, including an improvement in Responsible Bodies’ results between the 2026 and 2027 returns.
What should Responsible Bodies be doing now?
With the submission window approaching, the DfE recommended that Responsible Bodies begin preparing now. This includes:
Registering for Manage Your Education Estate (MYEE)
Responsible Bodies should register and familiarise themselves with the portal ahead of time, allowing an opportunity to resolve any technical issues before the submission window.
Reviewing the questions
The 28 questions are available in advance, giving Responsible Bodies an opportunity to consider how they will respond and what information may be needed.
Identifying who needs to contribute
Depending on the size and structure of the organisation, input may be required from colleagues with different areas of responsibility. Considering this in advance should make the process more straightforward.
Considering areas for improvement
Reviewing the questions against current estate management arrangements can help identify potential gaps and areas that may require further attention.
The Annual Return opens on 22 September 2026 and closes on 23 November 2026. Further DfE webinars are also scheduled for 8 October and 4 November.
What does this mean for Responsible Bodies?
The webinar reinforced that the Annual Return should be seen as more than an exercise in reporting to the DfE. It provides an opportunity for Responsible Bodies to take stock of their current estate management arrangements, understand where their greatest risks and gaps may lie, and use this information to inform future priorities.
For organisations that have already begun aligning their estate management arrangements with the School Estate Management Standards, the return provides an opportunity to assess progress. For those still developing their approach, it can help provide a clearer picture of where to focus next.
Ultimately, the DfE's ambition is for the Standards and Annual Return to support a sustained improvement in estate management across the education sector.
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.
