Who should read this?
Duty holders, including employers or people in control of premises and those with Health and Safety responsibilities for others, to help them comply with their legal duties.
The guidance below focuses on maintenance of school buildings and assets. Schools will have other Health and Safety obligations that are covered under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other relevant legislation.
Who is the Duty Holder?
The Duty Holder would depend upon the type of school:
School Type
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Duty Holder
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Community schools, community special schools, voluntary-controlled schools, maintained nursery schools and pupil referral units
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Budget Holder or Employer
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Foundation schools, foundation special schools and voluntary-aided schools
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Governing Body
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Academies, free schools, community technical colleges and other independent schools
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School Proprietor (the Academy Trust in the case of academies and free schools)
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In some instances, the Duty Holder may appoint a Responsible Person to manage premises and associated statutory duties.
What is Essential School Maintenance?
Essential School Maintenance relates to the legal responsibilities of a school building and associated assets and:
- ensures the Duty Holder is meeting their statutory duty
- ensures a safe and secure environment for all building users
- can reduce disruption to education
- can extend the life of school assets
- can reduce substantial maintenance and replacement costs in the future
What is required by the Duty Holder?
The Duty Holder must have a full understanding of their building and the associated statutory and essential school maintenance requirements. This can be achieved by:
- Carrying out a Building Asset Audit
- Carrying out a
Condition Survey
- Compiling a Planned and Preventive Maintenance Schedule/Plan
- Using Approved Vendors/Contractors
- Ensuring Value for Money is achieved.
Good Estate Management for Schools
Read this manual if you have responsibility for overseeing or managing the estate. This includes:
- leaders and governors of schools
- charity trustees of academies and academy trusts
- trustees of schools
- school business professionals
- those with responsibility for the day-to-day running of the school estate
- local authorities
- diocesan authorities and other religious authorities and bodies
Click on
Good Estate Management for Schools Guidance to learn more
Statutory Duty and Good Practice
The Duty Holder has a Statutory Duty or is advised to ensure the following legislation and recommendations are being implemented at their school. Please click on the Building Element to learn more:
Note: The above table will be added to over a period of time.
What could happen if you do not fulfil your Statutory Duty?
- A person(s) could become ill, incur an injury or die
- Buildings could be closed, disrupting the delivery of education
- Head Teachers, Governors and Building Custodians etc. could face legal action
- Head Teachers, Governors and Building Custodians etc. could receive a large fine along with court costs
- Reputations could be damaged
Who should I contact?
Contact The Education Client Services Team on E:
ClientServices@bradford.gov.uk for further information
Further information
Good Estate Management for Schools
Contractors
Schools may have in-house staff to carry out some plant and building maintenance but there will always be the need for specialist contractors. To enable both in-house and contracted staff to work in safety you will need to properly brief them on your site
and processes, and you will need them to follow safe working practices. Please select the
HSE – A brief guide to using contractors to learn more.
The Authority’s Building and Technical Services
Team have a wealth of knowledge on school buildings and can offer expert advice and support on technical issues along with contract administration, when schools take out the B&T
Service Level Agreement.
Who should I contact?
Build Enviroment on Telephone: 01274 431877
BEhelpdesk@bradford.gov.uk
Lines open between 8am and 6pm