Aston University energy centre project offers blueprint for low-carbon campus estates
Aston University has begun construction of a new Carbon Neutral Energy Centre, signalling a major step forward in the decarbonisation of higher education estates and offering a practical model for FM leaders managing complex campus environments. The Birmingham-based project, backed by a £35.5 million grant from the UK Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, will replace […]
Why AI must be embraced in education while acknowledging its limitations
By Dr Jenny Stewart, Eduqas Artificial intelligence is moving rapidly from a futuristic concept to an everyday presence in classrooms, workplaces and the creative industries. For educators, the question is no longer whether students will encounter AI tools, but how we help them understand and use them responsibly. Across the screen industries in particular, AI […]
FM & MAINTENANCE MONTH: Adapting campus maintenance models to new space demands
School estates across the UK are undergoing a quiet but significant shift. As timetabling becomes more flexible and campuses open up to wider community use, facilities and estates leaders at the Education Forum are being challenged to rethink how buildings are maintained, cleaned and secured. The traditional model of a school operating within fixed hours […]
SEND system under strain as councils face rising demand and limited resources, report warns
Local authorities across England are struggling to meet demand for SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) services, with a new report warning that many councils are being ‘set up to fail’ under current system pressures. The research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation and led by Professor Robert Thomas at the University of Manchester, examines how […]
Secure your place at the Education Forum
Your free place at the Education Forum is still available – confirm that you will be joining us in October! This event provides the best experience for all Education establishments looking to explore a diverse range of key industry solution providers. Click Here To Register Tuesday 6th & Wednesday 7th October 2026 Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre, […]
April 2026 is Health, Safety and Environmental Month on Education Briefing – Make sure your solutions are part of the story!
Each month on Education Briefing we’re shining the spotlight on a different part of the education procurement market – and in April we’re focusing on solutions to help your institution with H&S and Environmental. It’s all part of our ‘Recommended’ editorial feature, designed to help education buyers find the best products and services available today. […]
Why women in FE still feel ‘lucky’ to be in the room
For much of her career, West Herts College Group CEO Gill Worgan believed she had “over-achieved”. Not because she wasn’t capable. Not because she wasn’t delivering. But because, as a woman rising through senior roles in further education, she carried a persistent feeling that she was somehow fortunate simply to be there. “I’ve had to […]
FE teacher pay gap with secondary schools reaches highest level in over a decade
The pay gap between teachers working in further education (FE) colleges and those in secondary schools has widened to its highest level in more than a decade, according to new research from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). The report finds that FE teachers now earn around 20% less on average than their secondary […]
FM & MAINTENANCE MONTH: Balancing backlog and budget – Strategic maintenance planning in a constrained funding climate
Across the UK’s primary and secondary schools, facilities and estates teams are facing an increasingly familiar challenge: growing maintenance backlogs combined with limited funding. Ageing buildings, rising repair costs and tighter budgets mean schools must make difficult decisions about where to invest and how to prioritise essential works. For estates leaders and school business professionals […]
FM & MAINTENANCE MONTH: Managing statutory obligations across primary and secondary school estates
For primary and secondary school estates leaders, compliance is a frontline governance priority. Increased regulatory scrutiny, heightened safeguarding expectations and ageing buildings have combined to make statutory maintenance one of the most complex areas of school facilities management in 2026. From fire safety and water hygiene to asbestos management and electrical testing, the compliance landscape […]