School estate management standards annual return
The school estate management standards annual return confirms how your organisation meets the school estate management standards.
Applies to England
About the school estate management standards annual return
This annual return starts from September 2026.
The return:
- uses multiple-choice questions
- does not require you to upload supporting documents
- will not affect the funding your organisation gets from the Department for Education (DfE)
The annual return will help you understand the levels of the school estate management standards your organisation is meeting. It will also give DfE information about how the standards are being followed and what support might be needed.
Who needs to complete and submit the return
DfE asks all school responsible bodies that are eligible for annual DfE capital funding to submit this return, including:
- local authorities
- sixth-form colleges
- multi-academy and single-academy trusts
- dioceses
In dioceses with voluntary-aided schools, the diocese will complete and submit the return. Where necessary, it should seek input from schools or their governing bodies.
Individual schools, nurseries or other educational environments do not need to submit the return.
Important dates
For the 2026 to 2027 academic year return:
- submissions open in the third week of September 2026
- the deadline will be in late November 2026
Submit your return
You will need to use the Manage your education estate service via DfE Sign-in.
To access Manage your education estate:
- Create a DfE Sign-in account.
- Add your responsible body to your DfE Sign-in account. Find out how to add organisations.
- Add Manage your education estate to your organisation. Find out how to add a DfE service.
Complete and submit your return through the Manage your education estate service via DfE Sign-in.
Get help using DfE Sign-in
If you do not know who your approver is, use the DfE Sign-in contact form.
If you have forgotten your DfE Sign-in password, you will need to use your login email address to update it.
Get help using Manage your education estate
If you cannot access Manage your education estate to submit your return, or need to submit a late return once the deadline has passed, raise a DfE service query.