Why School Site Managers Deserve Better Than Basic Training...

I can tell within minutes whether a school site manager has had proper training.

It's not what they say. It's how they carry themselves.

Their posture. Their confidence. The way they talk about the building, the plant equipment, the systems they're responsible for.

I've walked into schools where the site manager was a bit of a jobsworth—no real substance to how they spoke about the premises. Then I've met site managers who were completely different: passionate, knowledgeable, fully invested in their school.

What's the difference between these two?

Here's what I've learned: passion drives the learning, but structured training protects everyone.

And right now, most site managers are getting neither.

When Good Intentions Go Wrong

Let me give you a real example.

I've seen a passionate site manager attempt a fence repair using jubilee clips to save money. The clip held the panel together. Job done, right?

Wrong.

It left sharp edges sticking out. A child's injury waiting to happen.

Another time, someone carried out a plumbing repair without the correct equipment. The fitting failed. Water everywhere. What started as a quick fix became an expensive emergency.

These weren't bad people. They were trying to help under brutal budget pressure.

But here's the brutal truth: domestic DIY knowledge doesn't translate into a commercial, compliance-heavy setting.

What this means for your school: When budget holders are demanding cheaper solutions, site managers need more than enthusiasm. They need the knowledge and confidence to push back and explain the real risks. And the real costs.

The System That's Failing Them (And Your School)

Schools are run by education professionals. Some trusts have central facilities teams. But I still witness a huge disconnect between that support and what a school site actually demands day to day.

Here's what typically happens:

Site managers get statutory training. Health and safety awareness. Asbestos awareness. Manual handling. COSHH.

This ticks the compliance box. But it's a tiny part of a much bigger picture.

At the other end of the scale? Some site managers complete formal qualifications. BTEC. City & Guilds. Proper credentials.

Then they leave for better-paying industries.

We've created a brain drain. We train them up, qualify them out.

Meanwhile, for everyone else, completing checklists becomes another tick-box exercise. Someone signs their name. Job done.

Except it's not done. It's a worrying trend that leaves huge gaps and risks across your estate.

Why Site Managers Feel Stupid About Compliance (When They're Not)

Here's something most headteachers and business managers don't realise:

Site managers don't feel stupid about compliance itself.

They feel stupid about the way it's dumped on them.

Think about it. They're handed massive legal responsibilities. Fire safety. Legionella. Asbestos. Contractor management. Record-keeping. The list goes on.

But the training? It rarely matches how they actually work.

Job descriptions talk about "ensuring all statutory compliance requirements are met." Sounds official. Sounds clear.

But here's what doesn't happen: No one sits down and says in plain English, "Here's exactly what you're responsible for. Here's how often. And here's how you do it step by step."

Instead, training courses are pitched at senior leaders. Not the person opening up at 6am and resetting boilers.

Heavy on legislation and jargon. Light on "show me how."

Site managers sit in rooms being talked at about regulations. But they don't get:

• A walkthrough of an actual plant room

• "This is what a good logbook looks like"

• "This is how to do this check safely, in the time you actually have"

So what happens when something goes wrong? A failed audit. A missed test. An incident.

Site managers feel they'll be first on the hook.

But here's the thing: nobody ever made it safe to say, "I don't understand this bit. Can someone show me?"

So they keep quiet. And they carry that anxiety every single day.

The system is built to prove they've done things, not to help them understand things.

And that's a massive problem for everyone.

What This Actually Costs Your School

When site managers tick boxes in fear rather than understanding what they're doing, something predictable happens.

Buildings slowly fall apart.

Fire doors that don't latch properly. Water temperatures drifting into legionella-risk range. Minor leaks becoming mould. Worn flooring becoming trip hazards.

Are these things missed because site managers don't care?

No. They're missed because people are focused on not getting in trouble, not on understanding the system.

Here's what that looks like in real terms:

• Small issues become capital projects

• A £40 preventative task turns into a £4,000 emergency callout

• Everyday safety for children quietly erodes

Fire routes blocked. Play equipment unchecked. Unsecured gates.

Fear is expensive. Competence saves money.

Schools don't need perfect paperwork. They need buildings that protect children from preventable harm.

There's a Better Way

This is exactly why we created PremisesPro Academy.

It bridges the painful gap between basic tick-box courses and costly qualifications that drive people away. Instead of overwhelming site managers with theory they'll never use, we deliver real-world, day-to-day skills they can use immediately.

Every lesson is grounded in actual school scenarios:

• Compliance checks

• Daily routines

• First-line repairs

• Managing contractors

Bite-sized, on-demand learning that slots into the working day. No long courses. No pressure. No sitting in rooms being talked at.

But here's what makes the real difference: community and peer support.

Think about it. When has a site manager ever had access to a network of colleagues who understand exactly what they're dealing with?

PremisesPro Academy members get access to a peer group, workshops, Q&A sessions, and live support. They can ask colleagues how to deal with tricky situations. Learn what's worked and what hasn't. Get advice from people who've been there.

Having the support of industry leaders and experts across the UK empowers site managers with tried and tested methods. Not theory. Not guesswork.

What site managers tell us:

The Academy feels like having a mentor in their pocket. Someone who shows them exactly what "good" looks like, step by step.

They experience the relief of finally understanding compliance without feeling stupid. The confidence to handle repairs they used to avoid. The pride of running a safer, smarter school.

What Actually Changes on the Ground

So what happens when a school treats their site manager as a strategic partner rather than just a task-doer?

You see real, tangible change.

They become invested in the estate. They feel they can make a genuine difference. And that matters more than you might think.

It removes the premises burden from business managers. It forges closer working relationships across the team.

Having knowledge about energy saving, waste reduction, and sustainability makes site team members feel genuinely empowered. Not just asked to "do this or that."

What this looks like in practice:

• Site managers who proactively identify issues before they become expensive problems

• Confident conversations with contractors and suppliers

• Real input into premises decisions, not just taking orders

• Recognition beyond their own school, driving pride and commitment

When site managers become knowledgeable amongst their peers, fully involved in premises decisions, that's true empowerment.

Understanding protects people. Ticking boxes protects no one.

The Core Truth Every School Leader Needs to Hear

Site managers deserve better than basic training.

Not because it's nice to have. Not because it's fair.

Because they're safeguarding the entire school community every single day.

When a site manager finally knows why something matters and how to do it properly, everything changes:

• The building lasts longer

• The school saves money

• Staff feel safer

• Children learn in a better environment

• The site manager feels proud instead of scared

That's what proper training looks like.

And that's what every school deserves.

Nick Calcutt

PremisesPro Academy