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Planning for Long-Term Expansion: A guide for MAT's

Planning for Long-Term Expansion: A Guide for Multi-Academy Trusts (MAT’s) Future-proofing your estate strategy for sustainable growth

As the education landscape continues to evolve, Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) across the UK are facing growing pressures—not just to deliver high standards of education, but also to manage increasingly complex estate portfolios. Whether you’re expanding through school mergers, adding new academies, or adapting to changing demographics, planning for long-term growth is essential.

Yet many MATs find themselves with inherited aged properties, therefore reacting to short-term needs—fixing leaking roofs, adding modular classrooms, or chasing emergency funding—without a coordinated, forward-looking plan. At FSL Projects, we work with MATs to develop robust, scalable estate strategies that support both current operations and future aspirations.

In this guide, we explore how MAT leaders can plan for long-term expansion with clarity, confidence, and control.

1. Start with Your Vision and Growth Strategy

Before you look at buildings or site constraints, begin with your strategic intent as a trust:

Where are you expecting growth—in pupil numbers or geography?
Are you planning to onboard new schools or invest in existing ones?
What are your curriculum priorities that may influence space and infrastructure?

Why it matters:
Aligning estate planning with your trust’s wider vision ensures that facilities support—not limit—your educational goals.

2. Develop a Trust-Wide Estate Strategy (TWES)

A Trust-Wide Estate Strategy is more than a condition survey—it’s a live document that links:

Asset performance
Investment priorities
Risk management
Expansion plans
Sustainability goals

Your TWES should highlight which sites are underused, oversubscribed, or facing compliance risks—and outline how your trust will respond over the next 3 to 10 years.

Tip: A strong TWES can also unlock funding opportunities, including CIF, SCA, TCAF, and energy efficiency grants.

3. Map Site Capacity and Potential

Many trusts lack an accurate understanding of how much space they really have—or how much more can be developed.

We recommend conducting a Capacity and Site Utilisation Review across your estate to:

Assess room utilisation and bottlenecks
Identify sites suitable for expansion (e.g. new blocks, infill)
Understand planning, access, and environmental constraints
Align layout with curriculum delivery and SEN needs

At FSL Projects, we use architectural tools and stakeholder engagement to produce actionable capacity plans for MATs planning future growth.

4. Build in Flexibility and Resilience

Expansion isn’t always linear. Pupil numbers can fluctuate, funding streams change, and policy reforms can shift priorities. Your estate plans should be flexible enough to adapt without incurring major costs.

Smart moves include:

Designing buildings that can be repurposed or extended
Standardising building elements across sites to reduce costs
Creating modular or phased development plans

Bonus: Embed sustainability early—net zero targets and ESG reporting are fast becoming expectations in capital projects.

5. Strengthen Governance and Project Delivery Capacity

Large-scale expansion requires more than vision—it demands robust governance, project management, and risk control.

As your trust grows:

Clarify roles and responsibilities (e.g. Estates Director, CFO, Governors)
Use frameworks or procurement consultants for efficient project delivery
Work with experienced Employer’s Agents to protect trust interests from feasibility to handover

At FSL Projects, we act as trusted partners to MATs—coordinating consultants, managing risk, and ensuring value at every stage of delivery.

Final Thought: Expansion is an Opportunity, Not Just a Challenge

For MATs with vision, expansion is a chance to redefine how your estate supports excellence in teaching and learning. With the right planning, you can reduce costs, improve outcomes, and ensure every capital investment contributes to your long-term goals.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

FSL Projects helps MATs across the UK design and deliver strategic estate plans that stand the test of time. Whether you’re writing your first TWES or planning a major campus expansion, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.