Across the School Estate
Emergency incidents – whether a burst pipe, a significant issue in the vicinity of the school, or a safeguarding-related concern – can disrupt school operations in seconds.
School and Trust leaders, supported by their estates and operations teams, must therefore be able to respond quickly, decisively and with confidence. The School Estate Management Standards (SEMS) underline this priority clearly: Level 1 of the standards (page 6) requires trusts to have continuity plans in place “to cover any emergencies related to the estate.”
This need for practical, usable planning formed the backdrop to a recent TTN webinar with Bryony Green, Chief Operating Officer at Aldridge Education, and James Green, Head of Estates and Assets at Tove learning Trust, which brought together more than sixty TTN members keen to expand their knowledge on the risks they face and ensure they are prepared.
Aldridge Education’s approach: simple, structured and usable
Bryony provided a walkthrough of the Emergency and Business Continuity Plan structure used across Aldridge Education. Her central message was consistent: the document must be usable in real time, by real people, in real situations.
At the centre of the plan is an emergency checklist and a visual incident response flowchart designed to support the very first actions taken by staff on the scene. It gives immediate clarity on what needs to happen, whom to notify and what information should be captured.
This practical first step is closely aligned with SEMS Level 1 (page 6), which sets the expectation that continuity planning is embedded into everyday estate management practice – not reserved solely for senior leaders.
. Under pressure, staff benefit from quick, decisive pathways rather than lengthy written instructions.
Equally important is the trust’s incident log sheet. Bryony highlighted the importance of keeping a clear, time-stamped record of events as they unfold. Good documentation supports coordinated decision-making, forms an evidential trail for insurers and regulators and underpins future learning. This emphasis fits well with SEMS Level 3 (page 13), which describes “robust systems and documented processes” as a hallmark of fully effective estate management.
From response to recovery: building resilience
Bryony was clear that effective emergency planning doesn’t end when the immediate issue is resolved. Recovery is where continuity becomes visible to students, staff and stakeholders. The plan therefore, sets out expectations around follow-up actions.
This broader view aligns strongly with the SEMS description of more mature continuity planning at Level 2 (page 11). At this stage, trusts are expected to have “a detailed continuity plan that covers the relocation of pupils if needed” and to consider wider threats such as climate change and cybersecurity.
A good Emergency and continuity plan incorporates these wider considerations, helping schools move beyond reactive response and towards a more resilient, forward-looking estate management culture.
The practical essentials: the emergency grab bag
One of the most engaging parts of the session was Bryony’s walk-through of the trust’s “emergency grab bag” – a bag of important and useful equipment and resources that can be accessed quickly should you need to evacuate.
These small, practical decisions support the broader ambition outlined at SEMS Level 4 (page 15), which encourages trusts to anticipate risks and operate with a culture of proactive resilience.
Accessing the template and aligning with national standards
Many webinar attendees asked for access to the example template, and that is now available, along with the webinar recording, for all members via The Trust Network’s members’ event resources and recordings area.
Pairing this template with the SEMS gives estates teams a powerful combination:
- A national benchmark for what good looks like
- A practical, real-world example of how a trust has implemented it
By reviewing Aldridge Education’s plan alongside the requirements and progression outlined at SEMS Levels 1–4 (pages 6–15), trusts can identify where they currently sit and what steps will support their development towards more advanced, resilient practice.
About The Trust Network
Established in 2014, The Trust Network is an independently run peer network, dedicated to good school estates management. We are managed by our members and for our members and share best practice and knowledge through regular events and webinars. We provide a single voice to discuss issues at a national level with the DofE and other national agencies.
Members will receive TTN News and Updates via our regular newsletters, opportunities to network and access to free resources, events and webinars. Not a member yet? Join The Trust Network today!
